MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – Experts are raising alarms about kratom, an herbal supplement available at gas stations and party stores that can mimic the effects of opioids.
Officials first became aware of it when people who were in recovery from opioids seemed high, but their drug tests came back clean.
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People in recovery and children are at risk, which is why some police departments in Macomb County are taking action.
Nicole Gabriel, substance use director at Macomb County Community Mental Health, said the unregulated product can cause adverse effects like muscle pain, vomiting and seizures. Long-term use could also affect the liver.
“We’re seeing it in certain gas stations and convenience stores,” said Gabriel. “It’s in most communities.”
Local 4 went to several gas stations and smoke shops in Macomb County and found kratom pills, teas and capsules. Most were behind the counter, and clerks said people over 21 years old can only buy it.
Lauren Letzmann, Project VOX coordinator at CARE of Southeastern Michigan, said children can access kratom products.
“We’re seeing it in front of the counter,” said Letzmann. “Cashiers aren’t asking for an ID to monitor age requirements. And since there are no age requirements in Michigan as of now, that’s legal for them to do.”
There’s also a more powerful kind of kratom flooding the market.
“7-OH is seven-hydroxy mitogrania, and that is a highly concentrated version of kratom,” said Letzmann.
It’s 40 times more potent and not clearly labeled.
“And with that, we’re seeing an increase in psychotic episodes with adults,” said Letzmann. “And especially with adolescents, if they experience that psychotic episode, their brains don’t recover from that, and they’re susceptible to that for the rest of their life.”
People in recovery from opioid use can be especially vulnerable.
“It is shown to mitigate the symptoms of opioid withdrawal,” continued Letsmann. “However, a lot of people may not know the addictive potential of it.”
Earlier in July, the FDA issued a warning to companies illegally marketing products containing 7-OH.
“I think that’s a really big step forward, that you know, it’s on their radar,” said Gabriel. “It’s something that they’re aware of. And having the warning from the FDA, I think, sort of substantiates some of the advocacy that the community groups are doing.”
In the absence of federal or state regulations, police departments and city councils in Macomb County are taking action. There have been efforts in Clinton Township and the city of Warren to regulate the use and sale of kratom products.
“This is something that we definitely felt merited conversations with our local legislative body,” said Lieutenant John Gajewski from the Warren Police Department. “In this case, our city council they were super receptive, and hopefully we can get an ordinance on the books soon, which can help us get this under control.”
“Because it’s not regulated, it might not be seen as so dangerous,” said Gabriel. “It could be left out by somebody, if it’s tea and nobody knows what’s in it and a child drinks it, we don’t know what the effects would be
“It’s a very real, pressing concern, and it’s scary, because this is something that you could buy legally at the gas station right now, marketed toward adolescents or youth that could have fatal consequences,” said Gajewski. “So for law enforcement, this is definitely something we can’t ignore.”
There’s no ordinance on the books yet, but Warren police hope that changes soon.
There is a grassroots effort to warn parents and protect people in recovery. If you need help, here are some resources:
FDA warnings
Here are messages from the FDA on products containing 7-Hydroxymitragynine and the steps its taking to to restrict those products.
The FDA issued warning letters to:
- Shaman Botanicals, LLC
- My Smoke Wholesale
- Relax Relief Rejuvenate Trading, LLC dba RRR Trading or EDP Kratom
- Thang Botanicals, Inc. dba 7ΩHMZ, 7-OHMZ, or 7OHMZ
- Royal Diamond Imports, Inc. dba Roxytabs.com
- Hydroxie, LLC
- 7Tabz Retail, LLC
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced seven recent warning letters sent to companies for illegally marketing products containing 7-hydroxymitragynine, also known as 7-OH.1 This action reflects the Agency’s growing concern around novel potent opioid products being marketed to U.S. consumers and sold online and in smoke shops, gas stations, and corner stores. While 7-OH occurs naturally in trace amounts in kratom, the Agency’s letters focus on concentrated 7-OH products such as tablets, gummies, drink mixes, and shots, which may be dangerous.
7-OH is not lawful in dietary supplements and cannot be lawfully added to conventional foods. Additionally, there are no FDA-approved drugs containing 7-OH, and it is illegal to market any drugs containing 7-OH. Consumers who use 7-OH products are exposing themselves to products that have not been proven safe or effective for any use.
The warning letters address the illegal marketing of products containing 7-OHExternal Link Disclaimer. These letters specifically focus on products containing 7-OH as an added ingredient or enhanced levels of 7-OH. Some products are adulterated conventional foods or dietary supplements because 7-OH does not meet the relevant safety standard. Others are unapproved new drugs with unproven claims such as relieving pain and managing anxiety.
United States Food and Drug Administration on July 15, 2025.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today is taking a bold step to protect Americans from dangerous, illegal opioids by recommending a scheduling action to control certain 7-hydroxymitragynine (also known as 7-OH) products under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
The FDA is specifically targeting 7-OH, a concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant; it is not focused on natural kratom leaf products. 7-OH is increasingly recognized as having potential for abuse because of its ability to bind to opioid receptors. The FDA is releasing a new report to educate the public about the health concerns of 7-OH and its distinction from the kratom plant leaf.
“Today, we’re taking action on 7-OH as a critical step in the fight against opioid addiction,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “We will protect the health of our nation’s youth as we advance our mission to Make America Healthy Again.”
This recommendation follows a thorough medical and scientific analysis by the FDA and is one of several efforts to address the agency’s concerns around the growing availability and use of 7-OH opioid products. There are no FDA-approved 7-OH drugs, 7-OH is not lawful in dietary supplements and 7-OH cannot be lawfully added to conventional foods.
“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.”
The availability of 7-OH products is a major concern to the FDA, as consumers can easily purchase products with concentrated levels of 7-OH online and in gas stations, corner stores and vape shops. 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. These products may not be clearly or accurately labeled as to their 7-OH content and are sometimes disguised or marketed as kratom. The FDA has also published educational materials for consumers to be more informed about these harmful products.
In June, the FDA issued warning letters to seven companies for illegally distributing products containing 7-OH, including tablets, gummies, drink mixes and shots. Today, the FDA is also issuing a letter to health care professionals and is warning consumers about the risks associated with 7-OH products.
Under the CSA, drugs, substances and certain chemicals are placed into one of five schedules based upon their medical use, potential for abuse and safety or dependence liability. The Drug Enforcement Administration is reviewing the recommendation and has the final authority on scheduling, which requires a rulemaking process that includes a period for the public to provide comments before any scheduling action is finalized.
United States Food and Drug Administration on July 29, 2025