The FDA and many other public health organizations have warned consumers not to use products containing a substance called 7-OH. What is 7-OH, and what can happen to you if you use it?
Valor Behavioral Health is a safe and supportive place where adults can receive personalized outpatient care for 7-OH addiction and co-occurring mental health concerns. For additional details or to schedule a free assessment, contact us today.
Learn more about addiction treatment in Atlanta or verify your insurance now.
What Is 7-OH?
7-OH is a shortened version of 7-hydroxymitragynine. It is an alkaloid that naturally occurs in the Mitragyna speciosa tree, which is the source of the controversial herbal supplement kratom.
Kratom contains at least 40 known alkaloids. The two that are primarily responsible for the plant’s psychoactive effects are 7-OH and mitragynine.
Of the two, mitragynine is present in much larger quantities:
- Mitragynine: A January 2025 article in the journal Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry reported that mitragynine accounts for about 1–2 % of dry leaf mass and 66% of the total crude alkaloid content in a typical kratom sample.
- 7-OH: A report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noted that 7-OH makes up about 0.01%-0.04% of dry weight kratom and 2% of its total alkaloid content.
Even in that relatively small amount, 7-OH can be dangerous. But the risk it poses has been magnified in recent years, as manufacturers started selling products that contained synthetic or highly concentrated 7-OH. People who use these products are ingesting significantly more 7-OH than they would via standard kratom.
What Does 7-OH Look Like?
7-OH is sometimes referred to as “gas station heroin” because products that contain it have opioid-like effects and are frequently sold in gas stations, convenience stores, vape or smoke shops, and similar retail locations. They are also available online.
7-OH is sold in many forms, including:
- Tablets
- Tinctures
- Powders
- Liquid shots
- Gummies and candies
To identify 7-OH products, look for terms such as:
- 7-OH
- 7-Hydroxy
- 7-Hydro
- 7OHMZ
- Concentrated kratom
These products may be marketed in several ways, including as energy boosters, herbal remedies, painkillers, and diet supplements.
How Does 7-OH Affect the Body and Mind?
7-OH is not an opioid, but it binds to the same receptors in the central nervous that heroin, morphine, and other opioids do. Like opioids, the drug can cause certain pleasant effects, but it also poses a serious risk of immediate distress and long-term harm
7-OH causes opioid-like symptoms such as:
- Euphoric mood
- Numbing of pain
- Drowsiness and sedation
- Slowed heart rate and respiration
According to America’s Poison Centers, the short-term side effects of 7-OH can include:
- Confusion and disorientation
- Agitation
- Heavy perspiration
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation
- Racing heart rate
- Elevated blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Seizure
People who use 7-OH are also at risk of liver damage, addiction, and overdose. The risk is particularly high among those who combine 7-OH with alcohol and other drugs.
Is 7-OH Legal?
Though several states have outlawed or otherwise limited access to 7-OH, there is no current federal ban on the substance.
But that is about to change.
On July 1, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) filed a notice of intent to temporarily classify 7-OH and a few other kratom-derived alkaloids as Schedule I controlled substances. This change will go into effect August 30.
Schedule I is reserved for substances that have been determined to have no medical value and high risk of abuse. Other drugs in this category include heroin, LSD, MDMA/ecstasy, and cannabis.
The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) allows substances to be placed in Schedule I for up to two years if the U.S. attorney general determines that doing so “is necessary to avoid an imminent hazard to public safety .”
To make this classification permanent, the DEA would will to launch a process that is also defined in the CSA.
Can You Overdose on 7-OH?
Yes, the dangers of 7-OH use include risk of overdose. This risk can be heightened if you combine 7-OH products with alcohol and certain other substances.
According to the National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS), emergency medical services in the U.S. responded to 4,255 overdoses involving 7-OH or kratom between January 2023 and April 2025.
Since 7-OH interacts with the same receptors that opioids do, overdose symptoms are similar to what a person might experience if they were using heroin or prescription painkillers.
Signs of overdose involving 7-OH:
- Disorientation
- Loss of consciousness
- Inability to be awakened
- Slow heart rate
- Faint pulse
- Shallow or labored breathing
- Bluish coloration near lips and fingertips
- Cool, clammy skin
Naloxone (Narcan) may be able to reverse the effects of a 7-OH overdose if it is administered in time. But even if you use this medication successfully, you should still call 911.
Anyone who overdoses on 7-OH or actual opioids needs to be evaluated by a qualified medical professional to ensure they are no longer in danger.
Can You Get Addicted to 7-OH?
Yes, 7-OH poses a serious risk of addiction, which is one of the reasons why the DEA is moving to reclassify it as a Schedule I controlled substance.
Warning signs of 7-OH addiction:
- Having powerful cravings for 7-OH
- Using 7-OH in larger amounts or for longer than intended
- Missing appointments, not paying bills, or failing to meet other responsibilities due to their 7-OH use
- Continuing to use 7-OH even after having psychical, psychological, or social problems due to their prior use
- No longer participating in activities that used to be important to them
- Developing tolerance, which means they need to use larger doses to feel the drug’s effects
- Having withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop using it
Once a person has become addicted to 7-OH, their cravings and tolerance can push them to increase how much they use, while the pain of withdrawal can prevent them from stopping.
The good news is that 7-OH addiction is treatable. When you get the care you need, you can stop using 7-OH for good and start living a much healthier life in recovery.
Find Outpatient Treatment for 7-OH Addiction in Atlanta
Valor Behavioral Health is a trusted source of personalized outpatient care for adults who have become addicted to 7-OH, kratom, and other substances. We also serve clients who have developed anxiety, depression, and other co-occurring mental health concerns.
Treatment options at our center in Atlanta, GA, include a partial hospitalization program (PHP), intensive outpatient program (IOP), evening IOP, virtual (online) IOP, and outpatient program (OP).
Call 866-859-3442 today to learn more, or verify your insurance now.
