Why U. S. Health Officials Are Targeting a Kratom Ingredient

U. S. health authorities are sounding the alarm about a specific chemical found in kratom, a plant from Southeast Asia. This chemical, 7-hydroxymitragynine, is popping up in energy drinks, gummies, and supplements sold in convenience stores. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending a nationwide ban on this ingredient, but not on natural kratom leaf products. The FDA has released a report to educate the public about the risks of 7-OH, which is more potent than morphine. They want it added to the federal government’s most restrictive list of illegal drugs, alongside substances like LSD and heroin. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will review this recommendation before any federal ban takes effect. For about a decade, federal regulators have been looking into kratom due to reports of addiction, injury, and overdose. However, users and distributors argue that kratom could be a safer alternative to opioid painkillers, which have fueled the ongoing drug addiction epidemic. Last month, the FDA sent warning letters to seven companies selling products infused with 7-OH. These products violated FDA rules because they hadn’t been evaluated for safety and made unapproved medical claims. Supplement executives praised the FDA’s move, calling it a step towards protecting consumers. The American Kratom Association has been lobbying Congress for years against restrictions on the plant. They support legislation that would prevent the FDA from regulating kratom more strictly than food and dietary supplements. Nearly a decade ago, the federal government nearly banned kratom, but the plan was halted after public complaints and a letter signed by over 60 members of Congress. The FDA has also been warning about other unapproved drugs sold as supplements or energy drinks, including the antidepressant tianeptine. These drugs have been restricted by several states but are not yet banned at the federal level.