Alert – NDEWS –
What is 7-OH? 7-hydroxymitragynine or 7-OH is an opioid-receptor binding alkaloid that occurs naturally in trace amounts in kratom leaves
What was found? Dr. Christopher McCurdy, an internationally recognized kratom expert, alerted the NDEWS team to the presence of synthetically created 7-OH pharmaceuticals being marketed as kratom products. In response, the NDEWS team analyzed Reddit to find mentions of 7-OH. Analysis of online discussions indicates a recent increase in interest and discussion. Discussion remained relatively stable until November 2023 when an upward trend started to emerge. Since March 2024, there has been a strong upward trend with an over 300% increase in discussion. This sudden surge in interest raises concerns about the potential for increased misuse of this potent compound.
Expert Insight: “These new products are not kratom and are synthetically produced to generate high levels of 7-hydroxymitragynine. 7-Hydroxymitragynine is a highly selective opioid that does not behave like the naturally occurring alkaloids in the plant. It is essentially an unregulated synthetic opioid that is untested in humans and creates a significant risk to public health.” -Dr. Christopher McCurdy
How is it being discussed? Reddit users report that 7-OH provides subjective effects similar to prescription opioids. Some Reddit users report developing a dependence within just two weeks of use, as well as severe and long-lasting withdrawal symptoms. Users report that single doses can be highly potent. There are also concerns about the safety and purity of 7-OH tablets, as they may be cut with other substances. Many discussants report that they purchased 7-OH for chronic pain management.
Drug Terms: 7-hydroxymitragynine, 7-OH, 7HMZ, 7(omega)MZ
Methodological Note: Data was collected and analyzed by the NDEWS Web Monitoring Team, led by Dr. Elan Barenholtz and NIDA T32 predoctoral fellow Daniel Van Zant of the Machine Perception and Cognitive Robotics (MPCR) Lab at Florida Atlantic University. Metrics are based on post counts derived from algorithmic monitoring of all subreddits on Reddit. No personally identifiable or post-specific information is incorporated into this monitoring process. Due to modifications in our data collection protocols, the NDEWS Web Monitoring Team is currently unable to collect data for substances that generate high volumes of posts (e.g. xylazine or psilocybin). This temporary restriction, which is anticipated to persist until early June, reflects recent revisions to Reddit’s Terms of Service on data gathering. For more methodological details:
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