By Katlyn Fernandez, Brittany Muller – News Nation –
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that the state is taking emergency action to prohibit 7-hydroxymitragynine, also known as 7-OH, products.
The emergency rule takes effect immediately and makes it illegal to sell, possess or distribute any isolated or concentrated form of 7-OH in Florida.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said 7-OH is a concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant.
Florida officials said the products are marketed as natural or wellness supplements but can lead to addiction, overdose, and other serious health effects.
They are often sold in gas stations, vape shops and convenience stores.
“It’s clearly something more potent than morphine that should not be sitting on a shelf next to skittles,” said AG Uthmeier.
“7-OH is increasingly recognized as having potential for abuse because of its ability to bind to opioid receptors,” the FDA said in a news release.
Uthmeier said 7-OH can be highly addictive and can be easily overdosed.
“It’s very dangerous. We’ve seen it marketed and targeted to kids,” Uthmeier said. “We want to make Florida the safest place to raise a family and we are taking emergency action now because we see immediate danger.”
“Vape stores are popping up in every neighborhood in America, and many are selling addictive products like concentrated 7-OH. After the last wave of the opioid epidemic, we cannot get caught flat-footed again,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “7-OH is an opioid that can be more potent than morphine. We need regulation and public education to prevent another wave of the opioid epidemic.”
Dr. Makary said the concentrated synthetic drug may be the fourth wave of the opioid epidemic.
“Most consumers don’t even realize the danger of the product,” said Dr. Cory Howard, Florida Poison Control Tampa. “They can easily access it on store shelves, gas stations. I’ve seen this pop-up and tablets, gummy’s candy look-alike drink, mixes tea, shots, wellness supplements.”
Dr. Howard said it received 191 calls related to the exposure of 7-OH over the past year. He said the synthetic drug is unregulated and dangerous and it’s not only marketed to kids.
“I am seeing it even show up in truck drivers trying to use it as a wellness supplement, trying to stay awake not realizing they’re going to come into the ER a couple days later dealing with opioid addiction,” said Howard.
Leave a Reply