Missouri Health Department issues advisory on dangerous opioid-like substance 7-OH
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KBSI) – The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has issued a statewide health advisory warning residents about the serious health risks linked to 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a potent synthetic compound derived from the kratom plant and increasingly found in unregulated consumer products.
According to DHSS, 7-OH is being sold in Missouri in forms such as gummies, candies, powders and liquid shots, both in stores and online.
While kratom is a natural botanical, 7-OH is a concentrated derivative up to 13 times stronger than morphine at opioid receptors and has not been tested for human safety.
“Products containing 7-OH are being marketed as natural remedies, but they carry serious risks including addiction, overdose and even death,” said Dr. Heidi Miller, DHSS chief medical officer. “We are seeing a rise in emergency room visits and poison control calls related to these products.”
Between January and September 2025, the Missouri Poison Center received 47 reports of exposures involving kratom or 7-OH — nearly double the total from 2024. Three of those cases involved isolated 7-OH, with at least one requiring hospital care.
Symptoms of 7-OH exposure may include nausea, vomiting, anxiety, agitation, confusion, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, breathing difficulties, seizures, and in severe cases, unconsciousness or overdose. The risk is significantly increased when combined with alcohol or other sedatives.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced steps to restrict access to 7-OH products due to their opioid-like effects and lack of approved medical use.
DHSS urges Missourians to avoid any product containing 7-OH until more safety data is available. Anyone experiencing symptoms or suspecting an overdose should call 911 immediately and administer naloxone if available.
For more information, visit 7-OH and Kratom | Food Safety | Health & Senior Services or contact the Missouri Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.
