Latest news with #7-OH
Associated Press
01-07-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
7-HOPE Alliance Responds to Misinformation in Dr. Robert Redfields Recent Op-Ed on 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) in The Hill
Alliance Scientific Advisor Pens Letter Correcting Key Scientific Inaccuracies From Media Op/Ed LOS ANGELES, CA - July 1, 2025 ( NEWMEDIAWIRE ) - 7-HOPE Alliance ('7-HOPE'), a nonprofit public education and advocacy group dedicated to responsible access to 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), today issued the following letter from Scientific Advisor Dr. Michele Ross in response to former CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield's recent opinion article published in The Hill. Dr. Redfield's op-ed unfoundedly equated 7-OH with synthetic opioids, alleged it poses 'legal morphine-level' risks, and called for immediate enforcement action by the FDA and HHS. While his concern for public safety is genuine, it is also clear that Dr. Redfield was misinformed, likely by commercial actors with a vested interest in removing 7-OH from the market. The following letter, written by Dr. Michele Ross and originally submitted as a Letter to the Editor with no response from the publication, directly addresses the scientific, regulatory, and policy inaccuracies in the op-ed. 'As a neuroscientist who has spent nearly two decades researching addiction and working with chronic pain patients, I share Dr. Redfield's concern about emerging drug trends. But his recent warning about 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, paints an inaccurate and potentially harmful picture of a compound that many Americans are using to stay off far more dangerous substances. Most concerning is the claim that 7-OH is a 'synthetic opioid.' That label is scientifically inaccurate. 7-OH is a naturally occurring compound found in the kratom plant and is also produced in significant quantities inside the human body after consuming kratom leaf. When product manufacturers produce 7-OH outside the body, they are not creating a novel or lab-invented drug. They are mimicking the body's own metabolic process using heat and oxygen, a method no different from how other botanical extracts are refined or stabilized for dietary supplements. To call this synthetic is not only misleading, it falsely associates 7-OH with fentanyl-class opioids and risks misinforming both lawmakers and the public. Published studies show that 7-OH acts as a partial agonist at opioid receptors, unlike fentanyl, a full opioid agonist. 7-OH has a ceiling effect on euphoria which makes it more similar to the opioid use disorder treatment buprenorphine than fentanyl. Unlike traditional opioids, it does not activate the beta-arrestin 2 pathway strongly associated with respiration depression, overdose, and death. Multiple rodent studies have attempted to find a lethal dose for 7-OH and failed – that alone separates it from the synthetic opioids devastating our communities. Dr. Redfield suggests that 7-OH poses an 'unregulated pharmaceutical threat,' but this ignores the rigorous safety practices already in place among responsible manufacturers. 7-HOPE supports strict milligram-based serving limits and accurate labeling standards, not unlike those already applied to THC and CBD in regulated markets. Dr. Redfield also references an FDA clinical trial on natural kratom leaf to suggest 7-OH products represent a 'bait and switch.' But this misrepresents the research. That study evaluated natural kratom leaf in experienced users and found no serious adverse effects. What it also revealed is that kratom and its active metabolites, including 7-OH, show low abuse potential and may offer therapeutic benefits. Rather than contradict the utility of 7-OH, this research supports continued exploration of its properties, especially as a harm reduction tool. Further, the suggestion that federal agencies must act immediately to issue 'import alerts' and 'classify 7-OH as an unapproved drug' is premature and reckless. Research on 7-OH is ongoing, and early findings show promise. HHS has already rejected scheduling kratom and its components once, citing the risk of immediate harm to users if access is cut off. That decision still holds today. We do not ban nicotine or even alcohol because they carry risks. We regulate them. The same approach should be applied here. What Dr. Redfield's op-ed leaves out entirely is the human impact of a ban on 7-OH. Millions rely on 7-OH to manage pain, reduce alcohol use, or avoid relapse from other deadly synthetics. These are not hypothetical users. I have heard from consumers, veterans, and parents who credit this compound with helping them get their lives back. When people are desperate to avoid fentanyl or oxycodone but have few options, removing one of the few effective, low-toxicity alternatives is not harm reduction, it's cruelty. Yes, 7-OH should be researched further and regulated, but as we know from repeated history,bans or broad mischaracterizations will not make people safer. They will push individuals back toward illicit markets and high-risk alternatives. If we are serious about harm reduction, we must let science, not stigma, lead the way. Respectfully Submitted, Dr. Michele Ross, PhD, MBA Scientific Advisor, 7-HOPE Alliance Author of Kratom is Medicine 7-HOPE urges lawmakers, regulators, and the media to engage with the science and lived experiences of the people who use 7-OH safely every day. We remain committed to supporting ongoing research, promoting responsible regulation, and ensuring this compound remains accessible to those who rely on it for pain relief, recovery, and stability. For more information or to get involved, visit About 7-HOPE Alliance 7-HOPE Alliance (7-Hydroxy Outreach for Public Education) is a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3) pending) dedicated to advancing public education, user support, and policy advocacy around 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a naturally occurring alkaloid in the kratom plant. Through a foundation of science, storytelling, and community, 7-HOPE empowers individuals, healthcare professionals, and policymakers with accurate, balanced information on 7-OH and its role in harm reduction, natural wellness, and safe, legal access to alternatives. The organization's mission centers on four pillars: science, education, advocacy, and user support. By confronting misinformation, promoting responsible use, and providing uplifting real-life testimonials, 7-HOPE aims to ensure 7-OH remains available to the many individuals who find it to be a safe and effective alternative to dangerous painkillers and illegal drugs. For more information or to get involved, visit Media Contact [email protected] View the original release on
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Kratom helps fight pain, but can be dangerous. Missouri needs to regulate it
Missouri lawmakers chose not to restrict access to kratom and its derivative, 7-hydroxymitragynine or 7-OH, during this year's legislative session. That was the right call. But the current legal vacuum leaves consumers unprotected and responsible businesses without clear standards. As legislators begin shaping the 2026 agenda, the next step is clear: Adopt science-based regulation that protects public health and supports recovery. Kratom is a plant native to Southeast Asia that has been used for centuries to relieve pain and support recovery from substance use. Today in Missouri, it is sold in the form of capsules, powders and teas in wellness shops and smoke stores. Some people use it like coffee to improve focus or energy. Others, especially those managing chronic pain or recovering from opioid addiction, rely on it for more important reasons. Its naturally occurring compound 7-OH can be isolated and refined from the kratom plant, and it shows particular promise as a harm reduction tool. One of those people is one 76-year-old Marine veteran from Kansas City I know who served in Vietnam. He lives with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and long-term complications from cancer treatment. After struggling with conventional medications, he found relief through 7-OH. This vet's story reflects what we hear from customers every day. I run a business that serves people across Missouri, from cities to rural communities. Many are veterans, chronic pain patients or people in recovery. Some rely on kratom products daily to stabilize their health and avoid more dangerous substances. That is why we have adopted strict quality standards, including third-party testing for potency and purity, transparent labeling and ID checks to prevent sales to anyone under 21. But not every seller follows these practices. And without statewide regulation, nothing requires them to. Right now, kratom and 7-OH are legal to sell to anyone, anywhere in the state, with no consistent protections in place. This creates an environment where bad actors can mislabel products and ignore safety standards, putting vulnerable people at risk. In past years, some lawmakers have proposed bans as a solution. But we have seen what happens when gaps in oversight lead to blanket prohibition instead of thoughtful reform. The war on drugs criminalized demand without offering safer, regulated alternatives. That pushed people into underground markets and compounded the harm. We can take a better approach right here in Missouri. This year, lawmakers came close. The Missouri House overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan kratom consumer protection bill. It would have barred sales to minors, banned adulterated products and established clear rules for labeling and safety. But the Senate failed to act before the session ended, leaving Missourians without these basic protections. When lawmakers return next year, they should make kratom and 7-OH regulation a priority. Done right, it would preserve access for adults, ensure consistency across the market and crack down on reckless sellers. It would also level the playing field for responsible businesses that are already meeting high standards. Lawmakers now have the chance to lead with both compassion and common sense. We do not need another moral panic. We need clear, enforceable rules that protect consumers and support recovery. Next year, must be the year we get this right. Vince Sanders is the founder and president of CBD American Shaman, one of the largest CBD retail chains in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, the company has grown to encompass more than 360 franchise locations across the country.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Allegations of a 'turf war' arise in debate over regulating kratom in NC
A laptop displays the website of an online kratom retailer. (Photo: Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) North Carolina legislators are once again looking to put restrictions on kratom, which is currently unregulated in the state. The House Regulatory Reform Committee on Tuesday advanced House Bill 468, which would require retailers to obtain licenses to sell kratom and prohibit sales to or purchases by people younger than 21. The bill now heads to the House Finance Committee. According to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, kratom is a stimulant at low doses and a sedative at high doses. It is derived from a southeast Asian tree leaf and sold in the United States as tea, powered in capsules, or as liquid. The DEA sought to temporarily ban kratom in 2016, but backed off after a public outcry. That year, North Carolina legislators sought in separate bills to ban kratom or limit sales to people over age 18. Neither of those bills became law. Last session, a proposal to regulate kratom died in the battle between the state House and Senate over legalizing medical marijuana. Kratom has been a factor in hundreds of fatal overdoses since 2020, according to the Washington Post and the Tamp Bay Times. A handful of states have banned it. The committee debate Tuesday centered on provisions in the bill that would ban synthetic versions of the compounds that produce psychoactive effects. The argument centered on the compound known as 7-OH. 'At the time, we choose not to have any synthetic products on the market in North Carolina,' said Rep. Jeff McNeely (R-Iredell), the bill's sponsor. Isaac Montanya, CEO of 7-OH producer Charlotte Extraction Labs, said the bill inserted itself into a turf war. He called its prohibition on synthetics 'a sly way to regulate 7-OH out of the market.' His company manufactures an ethical product, Montanya said. Jeff Smith, national policy director for Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust, told the committee that people use 7-OH to ease opioid withdrawal. 'Banning 7-OH would turn patients into criminals,' he said. Sheldon Bradshaw, a former chief counsel with the FDA representing the industry group Botanicals for Better Health and Wellness, called 7-OH 'dangerous' and deceptively marketed. 'It has no business being on store shelves and in products that are being labeled as natural kratom and marketed as herbal supplements,' he said. McNeely said the ban on synthetics addresses the part of the plant that's going to be the most abused. 'We should have had kratom and cannabis regulated two years ago if not four years ago,' he said. 'Because it's been unregulated, we've allowed things to happen — good, bad, indifferent.'
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Medical experts call opioid-like supplement sold in Florida smoke shops 'legal morphine'
The Brief Medical experts are calling an over-the-counter substance sold in Florida legal morphine. 7-OH, also known as hydroxymitragynine, is sold in small pouches and comes in various flavors. Proponents of the medication say it can be effective in treating addiction. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - An over-the-counter substance sold in Florida smoke shops is raising concerns among medical experts, who are calling it a potential public health threat. The backstory The chemical, known as 7-OH – or hydroxymitragynine – is marketed in small pouches, sold for less than $10, and comes in flavors such as mint, berry and blue razz. Researchers say, however, what's inside is far more dangerous than it looks. "It is a completely opioid molecule," said Dr. Chris McCurdy, a professor at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. "So it interacts only with opioid receptors." What they're saying McCurdy and his colleague, Dr. Abhisheak Sharma has been studying 7-OH, and they say the product mimics the effects of potent opioids, without any regulation or oversight. READ: Former deputy no-shows DUI manslaughter trial, warrant issued "These products have shown addiction already in many people," McCurdy said. "We've seen this through interviewing a lot of individuals that are taking these products. Some individuals are taking 10 times, even 15 times, the labeled dosage." Sharma warns the compound has never been studied in humans. "There is no human data, first of all. The data we have is from pre-clinical research," Sharma said. "It has some similar activities, like morphine, and that's why I call it legal morphine – because you can buy it on market shelves." Big picture view Now, Florida lawmakers are stepping in. State Senator Jay Collins has proposed new legislation to ban 7-OH products statewide. Past attempts have failed, but another bill is set to be heard in committee on Tuesday. McCurdy, who is working with Collins on the legislation, says the lack of regulation is dangerous. "Unfortunately, they can be marketed in the United States right now without much regulation because there's no regulation in this whole space," McCurdy said. "What they have created is an isolated, chemical entity that we know is a pure opioid." The other side However, not everyone agrees with banning the product. The Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART) released a statement supporting 7-OH's potential in treating addiction. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube "HART believes 7-OH could provide a new set of tools to combat opioid misuse and improve public health," the statement read. "Proper regulation of this substance would also expand access to safe options for managing stress and decreasing reliance on harmful, illicit substances." FOX 13 reached out to 7-Tabz, a leading brand associated with the product, but did not receive a response. The Source FOX 13's Evyn Moon collected the information in this story. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS LIVE: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
