Jenn (not her real name) spotted a brightly colored package of 7-OH at a gas station and felt intrigued. As a self-professed naturalist who avoids traditional medicine and resists even over-the-counter medications, its promise of energy and pain relief enticed her. She suffers from chronic pain and had experimented with kratom before with no side effects, so she wanted to try this more “potent” formula.
She tried it and felt great at first but a week later after taking one pill a day, she skipped a dose and her body instantly protested. She woke up sweating profusely, felt overly emotional, and her stomach ached.
“I though it was a natural product,” she says. “It’s kratom. I never dreamed I’d get addicted to what’s basically gas station heroin. I’ve never had an addiction problem. It’s embarrassing.”
Another woman, Jessie (not her real name) received a free sample at a vape store. After taking it religiously for several weeks, she came across a Tik Tok warning of the dangers and tried to quit cold turkey. It did not go well.
“I experienced full on withdrawal,” she said. “My bones felt like they were crawling out of my skin. It took me nearly three weeks to feel normal again.”
Dangerous, highly addictive kratom extract
Although kratom has been consumed for centuries in Southeast Asia, the rise of highly concentrated extracts has shifted the conversation. One compound in particular – 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly referred to as 7-OH – has attracted the attention of both regulators and users. While it naturally occurs in only trace amounts in the kratom leaf, modern extraction methods allow manufacturers to isolate and amplify it, turning a subtle plant alkaloid into a potent opioid-like product.
What makes 7-OH so powerful is its activity at the brain’s opioid receptors, the same receptors that morphine and other opioids bind to. Laboratory studies suggest it can be many times stronger than morphine in terms of pain relief. For that reason, even relatively small doses can have pronounced effects, including euphoria, sedation, and in some cases, respiratory suppression. This potency also means that tolerance and dependence can develop quickly with repeated use.
Less than a week ago, local Moore County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Dustin White can across information about 7-OH on social media and it piqued his interest, so he began to investigate it more closely.
“This is 7-OH, a dangerous, highly addictive kratom extract being sold at a gas station right beside Tullahoma High School,” he stated on his personal social media page. “It can cause overdose, breathing problems, and death. It looks harmless. It’s not. Stay away.”
When we interviewed him, he told The Times that local deputies have come across it since then while searching vehicles for other drug activities.
“People think it’s a safe alternative to opioids or even use it do wean off opioids, but it’s just as addictive.”
Parent need to be aware
One challenge in tracking its misuse is the absence of formal data. While kratom users often report daily intake amounts in grams of leaf powder, little research has quantified how much isolated 7-OH addicted individuals typically consume. Harm-reduction communities, however, have stepped in with guidelines. They classify 6–10 milligrams as a “high” dose and 10–15 milligrams as “very high.” Taken once in a while, those levels are already risky. Taken multiple times per day, they can lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms that mirror traditional opioid use.
Because tolerance develops rapidly, individuals who find themselves dependent on 7-OH may escalate their intake—taking several high-level doses daily just to maintain a sense of normalcy. This pattern aligns with what addiction specialists have observed in other opioids: the body adapts quickly, cravings increase, and usage frequency climbs. Poison control data and FDA reports confirm that many adverse events involve repeated exposure, with symptoms ranging from agitation and seizures to respiratory distress.
The public health concern is compounded by the product’s availability. 7-OH can be found in gas stations, vape shops, and online retailers, often marketed in the form of chewable tablets, syrups, or shots. Prices range widely, but single servings can be purchased for the cost of a specialty coffee. That accessibility, combined with its potency, increases the risk that casual experimentation can evolve into compulsive, daily use—leaving consumers vulnerable to a cycle of dependency and escalating harm.
In July, the FDA took steps to restrict 7-OH or 7-hydroxymitragynine by recommending a scheduling action to control certain products. The FDA is particularly concerned with the growing market of 7-OH products that may be especially appealing to children and teenagers, such as fruit-flavored gummies and ice cream cones.
Five days ago, the Florida Attorney General issued an emergency ruling banning the kratom compound in the state.
On Tuesday, local deputies did an audit of local convenience stores and discovered it at the Lynchburg Discount Tobacco Store located on the Fayetteville Highway. They also made a stop at Jiffy Mart, but did not spot it and did not ask for it. With it being this close to home, he offered a stark warning to local parents.
“Parents, in particular, need to be aware of what their kids are taking. There is no ID requirement for this stuff, and it’s everywhere.” •
About The Lynchburg Times
The Lynchburg Times is an independent, woman-owned newspaper rooted in the heart of southern middle Tennessee. Led by a Tulane-educated journalist with over two decades of experience covering this region, we shine a light on the people, politics, and cultural pulse of a changing South. From breaking news to slow storytelling, we believe local journalism should inform, empower, and preserve what makes this place unique. Supported by readers and community partners, we’re proud to be part of the new Southern narrative – one story at a time. [Support us here.]