OKLAHOMA CITY (KTUL) — A recent audit by the Global Kratom Coalition has uncovered that numerous kratom products sold in Oklahoma surpass the legal limit for 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), effectively classifying them as synthetic opioids. This poses a significant risk to consumers across the state.
Kratom, a plant-based supplement known for its stimulant and pain-relieving effects, is regulated under Oklahoma law, which restricts 7-OH to 1% of the total alkaloid content. However, the audit found illegal levels of 7-OH in 30 stores across Oklahoma, including 10 in Tulsa, with some products containing up to 92% of the total alkaloid fraction.
Matthew Lowe of the Global Kratom Coalition said, “We started to see individuals that are taking a kratom extract, and they are using a synthetic process to turn these products into pure seven hydroxy mitig, and then they are selling those products mislabeled as kratom, but also mislabeled as dietary ingredients. Now, the problem with this is that those products are pure opioids. They are no longer natural. So people are getting addicted, people are getting sick, people are getting hurt, and we want to stop that from happening.”
The health risks associated with these synthetic kratom products include psychological effects, liver toxicity, and addiction. Lowe noted that many retailers are unaware that they are selling synthetic opioids. “Many retailers are being lied to by the people that are selling these products. So they are saying, well, these are just Kratom products, so the retailer doesn’t know that they’re getting, you know, a synthetic, highly concentrated seven product,” he said.
Lowe also highlighted the legal challenges, stating, “So that the law is in place, but there’s no at the moment, there’s no risk of breaking that law, right? Because no one’s being raided or having products confiscated.”
He added, “What we do know from the science is that pharmacologically, these things act exactly like an opioid. In fact, they’re three to 22 times more potent than morphine.”
Currently, the state has the authority to request lab results from vendors and take action. However, due to a lack of enforcement and oversight, these kratom products remain on store shelves, potentially posing risks to consumers throughout Oklahoma.
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