Los Angeles health officials are sounding the alarm after three young adults died in recent months from overdoses tied to a powerful kratom extract. Each of the victims consumed 7-Hydroxymitragynine, commonly known as 7-OH, a highly concentrated compound found in some kratom products. The products are often sold at gas stations and convenience stores as drinks or “shots”. California is one of many states where these products are sold. 

In all three cases, alcohol was also detected, which likely increased the danger of respiratory depression. The deaths are significant because kratom has often been marketed as a safer alternative to opioids or prescription painkillers, yet the concentrated forms now available on the market are proving to be far more unpredictable and dangerous. Officials said the victims were otherwise healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 40, making the fatalities even more alarming 

What Is Kratom?

Kratom itself is a plant native to Southeast Asia, where people traditionally chew the raw leaves or brew them into tea. In small amounts, the plant provides stimulant effects, while larger doses can bring sedative and pain-relieving effects. 

Currently, in the United States, kratom is quasi-legal. People are not allowed to import it. Yet, it is sold as capsules, powders, gummies, or liquid shots. Increasingly, these products do not contain just the raw leaf but instead rely on extracts and synthetic compounds such as 7-OH, which deliver much higher potency than anything found naturally in the plant. 

People who think they are using a “natural” product may in fact be exposing themselves to opioid-like effects strong enough to cause an overdose

Why Extracts Are More Dangerous

People who sell drugs often create a more potent extract to sell, which is what has happened with kratom. The danger lies in the way 7-OH affects the body. Although kratom leaves contain only small amounts of this alkaloid, extracts amplify its presence, sometimes through synthetic means. At higher concentrations, 7-OH binds to the same receptors in the brain as opioids, which can depress breathing and lead to unconsciousness or death. 

Unlike the gradual effects of chewing kratom leaves, extracts can act quickly and unpredictably, overwhelming the body before users realize what has happened. Experts warn that the problem is compounded when kratom is mixed with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other depressants. Like opioids,when combined, all of these heighten the risk of respiratory failure.

Many kratom products are sold in smoke shops, gas stations, or online with little regulation or labelling. For users, there’s little way to know how much 7-OH they are taking. Many products labeled as “natural” or “herbal” actually contain highly concentrated synthetic compounds that have been extracted with chemicals.

Los Angeles officials say this makes it nearly impossible for buyers to gauge dosage safely. As more of these extracts flood the market, accidental overdoses are becoming harder to prevent. 

Public say this is like the early years of vaping, when unregulated products were marketed aggressively without full knowledge of their risks. The manufacturers, after all, are simply after money.

Kratom, Addiction, and Overdose Risks

Because of the issues with regulation and high-concentration kratom extract, it’s a high-risk supplement. People who also drink or use other substances are at higher risk of overdoses.

Some people turn to kratom to self-treat anxiety, depression, or opioid withdrawal. For many, it may be that they are trading one drug for another. Kratom, recent studies have shown, has addictive potential, especially in concentrated forms.  Regular use can cause dependence or addiction, including building a tolerance to kratom that requires higher amounts to get the same effects. 

Many people simply aren’t aware of the dangers. Experts commonly cite the following concerns:

  • Addictive potential that causes physical tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.
  • Respiratory depression, causing overdoses at high doses, especially when combined with alcohol.
  • Stronger and less predictable effects from concentrated or synthetic 7-OH.
  • Inconsistent product labeling that makes dosage unclear and unsafe
  • Increased risk of overdose due to mixing with other sedatives or depressants

These factors contribute to why addiction specialists and toxicologists are pushing for tighter oversight. They warn that while natural kratom leaves may have a lower risk profile, the products now sold across the United States often bear little resemblance to the traditional use of the plant in Southeast Asia.

State and Federal Action

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings to companies selling kratom extracts in gummies, shots, and capsules, emphasizing that none of these products are approved medical treatments.

Federal officials are now considering whether to classify 7-OH as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. If that move happens, it would place synthetic kratom extracts in the same category as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy, signaling that the government views them as highly addictive and without accepted medical use.

Some states have already taken action on their own. 

7-OH Public Health Warnings Continue

In Los Angeles, officials are urging residents to avoid 7-OH products altogether and to be cautious with any kratom extract that claims to be safe or natural. 

They also encourage people to carry naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, which may reverse opioid-like overdoses. Public health leaders emphasize that awareness is key. 

When people understand the risks of kratom extracts, they are more likely to make informed choices. With more cases surfacing across the country, experts warn that these three deaths may only represent the beginning of a larger public health crisis if stronger safeguards are not put in place.

Getting Help for Addiction

If you or somebody you love is struggling with Kratom or another substance addiction, help is available. Give our hotline a call at 1-800-626-4014 for more information on your options.