Spokane health officials are closely monitoring the growing use of 7-OH, a synthetic compound derived from the kratom plant, due to its potential health risks and unregulated accessibility. The drug, available in various forms including tablets, gummies, drink mixes, and shots, is raising concerns among health authorities.
The Spokane Regional Health District is observing an “emerging trend” with 7-OH, according to spokesperson Kelli Hawkins. the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified clinical presentations of 7-OH that include euphoria, sedation, respiratory depression, and opioid-like withdrawal symptoms. Users have also acknowledged its significant addiction potential. Hawkins expressed particular concern over the drug’s unregulated availability, especially for young people, and the potential for widespread use to create a false sense of safety, given its opioid-like properties.
While the full extent of 7-OH use and sales in Spokane remains unknown due to its unregulated status, the drug is reportedly available in numerous stores across the city. A local establishment, Kratom Shop, which primarily sells the kratom plant, also stocks 7-OH products. The store owner, who chose to remain anonymous, stated that these products are “not the most popular” and suggested that government efforts to restrict 7-OH are an attempt to protect the pharmaceutical industry’s dominance in pain relief.
Washington state has not yet implemented restrictions on kratom or 7-OH, although many other states have. The federal government’s stance has shifted over time; in 2016, kratom was slated for regulation as a controlled substance, but this plan was later rescinded during President Donald Trump’s administration. In 2017, then-FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb declared kratom use “likely unsafe,” advising against its use for medical conditions or as an alternative to prescription opioids, citing a lack of evidence for its safety or effectiveness.
While acknowledging that kratom has not been extensively studied, welty noted that the plant’s leaves are “not particularly harmful.” Current FDA Commissioner Robert Califf has indicated that the agency’s focus is on the synthetic, concentrated form, 7-OH, rather than regulating kratom itself. “We have to prioritize what we work on. So we are going after the killer first, which is the synthetic, concentrated 7-OH,” Califf stated.
