There’s a substance sitting on gas station counters and vape shop shelves right now that acts on the brain the same way heroin does. It comes in gummies, shots, and tablets. No prescription. No age check. Many parents have never heard of it, and neither have a lot of the people using it.

It’s called 7-OH, short for 7-hydroxymitragynine. It’s a compound derived from kratom, and the federal government just took its most serious action yet to restrict it.

Why This Is in the News Right Now

This month, the DEA filed notices to regulate 7-OH as a Schedule I Drug, the same category as heroin. That follows a year of escalating warnings. The FDA issued letters to companies promoting 7-OH products. Federal agents seized roughly a million dollars-worth of unlawful 7-OH products from firms in Missouri. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has been direct about the distinction the agency is drawing: this isn’t an action against kratom leaf or kratom tea. It’s aimed squarely at concentrated, high-potency 7-OH products, the kind sold as candy and drink shots.

That distinction matters, and it’s part of why this compound has flown under the radar for so long.

What 7-OH Actually Is

7-OH naturally occurs in the kratom plant, but only in tiny amounts, less than 2 percent of the plant’s alkaloid content. The products causing concern aren’t natural kratom leaf. They’re concentrated and synthesized versions of 7-OH, engineered to be far stronger than what occurs naturally.

That strength is the problem. 7-OH binds to mu-opioid receptors, the same receptors targeted by heroin and opioids, and research has associated it with potency many times greater than morphine. The FDA has documented overdoses, seizures, and hospitalizations tied to 7-OH products.

And it’s sold absolutely no oversight or prescription. No minimum age. Some of these products are flavored and packaged in ways that look like candy, which raises real concern about appeal to teenagers.

States Aren’t Waiting on Washington

The DEA’s scheduling action is happening at the federal level, but a number of states have already banned 7-OH. Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Vermont, and Wisconsin have statewide bans on the books. Tennessee joined that list with a law that took effect July 1, 2026, making it a criminal offense to possess, manufacture, deliver, or sell kratom, and adding testing requirements in certain suspected overdose and neonatal cases. Other states have gone a different direction, choosing age restrictions, labeling requirements, or concentration limits rather than an outright ban.

That patchwork matters for families. A product that was sitting on a shelf legally last year may not be this year, and a loved one who has been using kratom or 7-OH regularly to manage pain, anxiety, or opioid withdrawal can find their access cut off with little warning. When that happens, withdrawal can follow, and some people respond by turning to prescription opioids, illicit opioids, or other substances to cope. Anyone using these products regularly should talk with a healthcare professional before stopping suddenly, rather than trying to manage withdrawal alone. Because the legal landscape is shifting state by state, it’s worth confirming current law rather than assuming last year’s rules still apply.

Why 7-OH Is So Easy to Miss

Here’s what makes 7-OH different from most substances we screen for in treatment: the people using it might not think of it as a drug like other illicit substances. It doesn’t label itself as 7-OH (or Kratom) on the label.

They might think it is a supplement for anxiety or a sleep aid. It’s marketed as herbal and natural, and it’s sold next to protein bars and energy drinks, so it doesn’t register as risky the way a pill bottle with a warning label does.

What to Look Out For

A few signs are worth paying attention to, especially with teenagers and young adults:

  • Unfamiliar gummies, shots, or tablets in a bag or car, particularly ones bought at convenience stores or online.
  • Talk about a product for “energy,” “focus,” or “relaxation” that doesn’t match anything a doctor prescribed.
  • Withdrawal-like symptoms after a period of regular use, including anxiety, irritability, and physical discomfort when the product isn’t available.
  • Increasing use over time, or using more of the product to get the same effect, which is a hallmark of building tolerance to an opioid.

None of these signs alone means someone has a substance use disorder. But together, especially if a family member seems to be relying on something they describe as harmless, they’re worth a direct, non-judgmental conversation.

You may want to ask about about kratom, botanical supplements, or anything bought at a gas station or vape shop. The answer is often yes, and it’s often a surprise to everyone involved, including the person using it.

Where Insurance and Treatment Get Complicated

One practical note for anyone navigating this with a loved one: how kratom or 7-OH dependence gets diagnosed and coded matters for insurance authorization. If dependence on 7-OH as a general psychoactive substance issue, apart from opioid dependence, authorization for treatment might be harder to get, even when the clinical picture is clearly consistent with opioid dependence.

If you’re working with a treatment provider or an intake team, it’s worth asking how they plan to code the diagnosis, and why. The symptoms of 7-OH addiction are consistent with opioid dependence.

The Bottom Line

7-OH isn’t hypothetical anymore. The regulatory picture, at both the federal and state level, is shifting fast, and it always lags behind what’s actually happening on the ground.

If someone you love is using something they call a supplement and it’s changed how they act, sleep, or function, trust that instinct. Ask questions. And know that treatment exists for exactly this kind of dependence, even when it doesn’t look like the opioid problem you expected.

About the Author

Scott H. Silverman is a best-selling author, and his new book, ‘You’re Not God, That Job is Taken’ can be purchased here: https://a.co/d/57SuidG.

Scott is also a family crisis coach, an interventionist, and speaks frequently about addiction and recovery on television and at public appearances. Scott empowers individuals and families to move forward past the crisis and onto the road of recovery. Confidential Recovery, the San Diego outpatient drug rehab program for professionals that Scott  founded in 2014.