Marketed as a natural wellness product and widely available, 7-OH seemed like a viable alternative for Hayden resident Kevin McAuliffe to use as an energy and mood booster.

However, McAuliffe said it became “absolutely impossible for me to ween off 7-OH because basically I became highly addicted to it, and I was waking up in the middle of night with withdrawal symptoms.”

“I was having extreme health side effects,” McAuliffe said of the product 7-Hydroxymitragynine, known as 7-OH, which is a chemically concentrated derivative of the kratom plant.

Addiction treatment professionals, UCHealth physicians, valley residents and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration all warn about the use of the potent kratom derivative.

“All community members in the valley should be aware of the long-term effects that kratom/7-OH have on people,” said Nele Cashmore, recovery program manager for The Health Partnership serving Northwest Colorado. “This is a synthetic drug being sold in gas stations. Our teens and adults can easily access it. What I’ve seen is highly acute withdrawal symptoms including hospitalization and long-term and long-lasting side effects to things like memory, body aches, irritability.”

Across the U.S., states have a mix of rules for kratom and 7-OH sales ranging from no restrictions to age restrictions to complete bans of all kratom products. 7-OH can be sold in Colorado to people 21 and older.

In the Yampa Valley, the potent synthesized kratom byproduct is sold at a few stores such as The Y-Not Shop locations in Steamboat Springs and Craig. 7-OH is easily purchased through online health and kratom shops.

The website Pure Leaf Kratom, for example, sells multiple varieties of 7-hydroxymitragynine products marketed for pain relief, mood enhancement or to support well-being, noting: “Whether you’re seeking a moment of relaxation or exploring herbal wellness, our 7-OH products offer a gateway to holistic experiences….Elevate your senses, soothe your spirit and embark on a journey of exploration….We encourage individuals to research and consult with healthcare professionals for personalized guidance.”

In July, the Food and Drug Administration recommended that the Drug Enforcement Administration classify 7-OH as a Schedule I controlled substance, and the DEA currently is reviewing the recommendation.

“7-OH is increasingly recognized as having potential for abuse because of its ability to bind to opioid receptors,” according to an FDA media release in July. The agency also highlighted a consumer education campaign called “Hiding in Plain Sight” with information at FDA.gov/7-OH.

In May, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed the Daniel Bregger Act into law, named after a Colorado man who died in August 2021 from a toxic combination of a highly concentrated product of the active psychoactive ingredient found in kratom and a common allergy drug.

The new Colorado law prohibits “manufacturing, packaging, labeling or distributing a kratom product that contains synthesized or semi-synthesized kratom alkaloids or has a level of 7-hydroxymitragynine in the alkaloid fraction that is greater than 2% of the alkaloid composition of the product.” The state law also restricts any kratom product “that is a confection, mimics candy, or is presented in a form that appeals to children; or that is combustible or intended for vaporization.”

Even with the new Colorado law, Physician Assistant Tracey Wall at Porch Light Health in Craig believes 7-OH remains a prevalent danger because it is available, highly addictive and a user’s tolerance for its effects increases rapidly leading to use of higher dosages.

Wall explained that 7-OH is a psychoactive ingredient in kratom that is isolated and concentrated synthetically in a lab into various types of products such as vapes, gummies, liquid shots, tablets and capsules. She said people may take 7-OH for pain, opioid withdrawals or to get high.

“It seems like it’s this natural alternative, but it can be really quite dangerous,” Wall said. “We have really seen an increase from people using kratom to switching to 7-OH.”

Porch Light Health provides assistance, resources and treatment for such addictions. Wall has seen 10 patients struggling with 7-OH addiction so far this summer. Sometimes called “gas station heroin,” 7-OH causes similar physical dependence as Fentanyl and heroin, Wall said.

“The availability of this drug makes it very appealing and also can create a false sense of safety,” Wall said. “Many begin taking it without having any idea of the harmful side effects or dependency concerns.”

Wall said the withdrawals that people experience when they try to stop consuming 7-OH can be extreme and dangerous, and symptoms may include severe body aches, tremors, intractable vomiting and diarrhea, severe anxiety and agitation. Even before addiction, using 7-OH can cause “potentially dangerous levels of sedation and respiratory depression even with one dose,” Wall said, and liver toxicity can occur with continued use.

“If taking it consistently, withdrawals are pretty severe, and it’s extremely hard to go cold turkey,” Wall said. “The longer you use it and the more you use it, the harder it’s going to be to come off it.”