DEA to Temporarily Schedule 7-OH and Related Substances to Protect Public Safety
“This action by Director Cole and the DEA will save lives, restore families, and strenghten communities across the United States. The DEA is following and trusting the science as they give law enforcement and public health partners the ability to address this emerging threat,” said Jeff Breedlove, CEO of the American Addiction Recovery Association
“AARA appreciates this bold and decisive action from the DEA,” said Breedlove.
From the DEA:
7-OH is a psychoactive substance with opioid-like effects and similar risks. In its botanical form, 7-OH is found in trace amounts in the Mitragyna speciosa plant, a tropical evergreen tree indigenous to Southeast Asia that is commonly used in religious or communal ceremonies.
This temporary scheduling action does not apply to botanical kratom products that contain naturally occurring 7-OH below the specified threshold. Instead, it targets synthesized products and those containing elevated concentrations of 7-OH as outlined in the temporary scheduling order. DEA believes these substances pose an imminent threat to public safety given their effects are highly unpredictable.
The United States has seen a proliferation of commercial products containing semi-synthetic 7-OH. These products are widely marketed online and sold in gas stations, convenience stores, and smoke shops in a variety of forms, including powders, tablets, capsules, gummies, and dissolvable strips. DEA laboratory findings indicate commercial products often contain higher amounts of 7-OH than what is found in natural-occurring, botanical kratom.
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For Additional Information:
Jeff Breedlove
AARA CEO
404-615-5735
#EndTheWhisper
