Multiple Fatal Overdoses Tied to Synthetic Kratom Compound in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is making residents and health care providers aware of the risks of the synthetic kratom compound known as 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) after the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner recently identified three fatal overdoses in LA County residents between the ages of 18 to 40 years old. Alcohol was present in all cases. The decedents were otherwise healthy, with no other substances identified as substantively contributing to their deaths.

Kratom and 7-OH products are unregulated and marketed as remedies for pain, anxiety, and depression. They are made from the leaves of a tree (Mitragyna speciosa) native to Southeast Asia that are crushed and then smoked, brewed with tea, or placed into gel capsules.

7-OH, the psychoactive component of kratom leaves, is being synthetically concentrated into various products that are sold in gas stations, smoke shops, and other retail and online venues in LA County. They are often promoted as dietary supplements to address a broad range of issues such as pain, anxiety and mood disorders, opioid withdrawal, or energy/general well-being. These products come in various forms such as tablets, gummies, drink mixes, and concentrated (“enhanced” or “super”) liquid extracts or shots for drinking, which significantly increase its adverse and potentially life-threatening effects.

Products are often labeled with terms such as “plant alkaloids” or “alkaloid”. At low doses, 7-OH can have stimulant-like effects and at higher doses it has opioid-like effects. High doses of 7-OH and/or co-used with alcohol or other sedatives can cause severe respiratory depression and death. Again, they are unregulated and may contain unknown concentrations of 7-OH, increasing the risk of unintentional overdose.

In July 2025, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) issued warning letters to firms for illegal marketing of concentrated 7-OH products and posted product images, saying, “7-OH is not lawful in dietary supplements and cannot be lawfully added to conventional foods. Additionally, there are no FDA-approved drugs containing 7-OH, and it is illegal to market any drugs containing 7-OH. Consumers who use 7-OH products are exposing themselves to products that have not been proven safe or effective for any use.”

The safest course of action is to avoid using 7-OH or kratom products. To minimize the risk of overdose and overdose-related death for people who are using drugs, Public Health urges residents to:

Never use alone: Using with another person is protective and increases the chances of lifesaving interventions such as the administration of naloxone in instances of an overdose. Naloxone can reverse 7-OH toxicity.

Stagger drug use with others: Making sure at least 1 person in the group can administer naloxone to reverse an overdose can save a life.

Avoid mixing 7-OH with other drugs: The effects of combining substances may be stronger and more unpredictable than using one drug alone and mixing and using multiple drugs increases the risk of an overdose.

Carry naloxone: Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose and successfully restore breathing to reverse the effects of opioids, including 7-OH. Naloxone can be administered through the nose or as an intramuscular injection to save their life. Both methods are equally effective.

Additional Resources:

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Overdose Prevention Webpage This Substance Abuse Prevention and Control (SAPC) website features information sheets and toolkits for the community relevant to overdose prevention. publichealth.lacounty.gov/sapc/public/overdose-prevention.htm

Poison Control 1-800-222-1222

Finding Substance Use Disorder Treatment In Los Angeles County, the general public, health care providers, and patients can find publicly funded substance use treatment services and bed availability using an online, filterable service locator known as the Services and Bed Availability Tool (SBAT), in the resource section of www.RecoverLA.org, or by calling the Substance Abuse Service Helpline (SASH). Services include outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment, residential treatment, withdrawal management, and Opioid Treatment Programs.

Service and Bed Availability Tool: SUDHelpLA.org

RecoverLA mobile-friendly platform: RecoverLA.org

Substance Abuse Service Helpline (SASH): 800-854-7771

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