Three more L.A. County deaths tied to synthetic kratom, health department warns

"Kratom is an herbal extract derived from the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, a tree native to Southeast Asia, and is commonly sold as a powder or pill - sometimes based on its natural form, and sometimes based on a synthetic version. Recently, U.S. purveyors have been selling more and more products with potentially dangerously concentrated amounts of 7-OH, according to a July report from the Food and Drug Administration."

"Researchers say there are people in the United States who use kratom to alleviate anxiety and chronic pain or as a remedy for the symptoms associated with quitting opioids. But despite its use for pain relief, public health officials have raised concerns about the potential for 7-OH abuse because of its ability to bind to opioid receptors in the body."

""It's critical that the community understand that these products are dangerous and can result in fatal overdoses," said Gary Tsai, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's Substance Abuse Prevention and Control Bureau. "The safest thing to do is avoid using 7-OH and kratom-related products altogether." In addition, Tsai said, to reverse an opioid overdose, the best approach is to administer naloxone."

Three additional deaths in Los Angeles County were linked to kratom compound 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), bringing recent kratom-related overdose deaths to six, with victims aged 18 to 40. Alcohol was detected in all six cases. Public health officials warn that 7-OH and concentrated synthetic kratom products can be dangerous and may cause fatal overdoses. Kratom is derived from Mitragyna speciosa and is sold as powders, pills, or synthetic formulations containing concentrated 7-OH. Some people use kratom for anxiety, chronic pain, or opioid withdrawal symptoms, but 7-OH binds opioid receptors, raising concerns about abuse. Naloxone is recommended to reverse opioid overdoses.

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