07/19/2026
Reports of addiction and death continue to emerge as the DEA moves to crack down on the "monster" drug 7-hydroxymitragynine, also known as "7-OH."
When speaking to reporters, a woman said she began using kratom to help with her anxiety until her local smoke shop owner recommended 7-OH, reportedly telling her, "You won't have to take this as much."
She said she later found herself using 7-OH "not to even feel good, but just to feel normal," adding that the owner told her 7-hydroxymitragynine was "a natural herb."
When looking into the 7-OH market, a popular content creator, who identifies as a recovering drug addict, said he found that 7-OH companies were using language such as "perks," syrup," "roxy" and "sippers only" on packaging, and said those products were actively "targeting the absolute, most-vulnerable consumer."