What is Kratom and 7-OH?

Have you been hearing more about Kratom and 7-OH lately? Are they opioids and are they legal?

• In This Article

  1. What Is Kratom?

  2. What Is 7-OH (7-Hydroxymitragynine)?

  3. Why 7-OH Is Different From Traditional Kratom

  4. How New Kratom Products Are Being Engineered

  5. Health Risks and Side Effects

  6. Kratom, 7-OH, and Addiction Risk

  7. Why Regulators and Clinicians Are Concerned

  8. Kratom Use and Opioid Recovery

  9. What to Do If You’re Using Kratom or 7-OH

  10. How an Addiction Treatment Center Can Help

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Learn What You Need to Know About the New Wave of Potent Kratom Products.

7-OH (7-Hydroxymitragynine) is an active ingredient in Kratom.

1. What Is Kratom?

Kratom comes from the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, a tree native to Southeast Asia. For years, people have used kratom in teas, powders, or capsules for energy, pain relief, mood support, or to ease opioid withdrawal symptoms.

Because kratom is plant-based and widely sold in gas stations and smoke shops, many people assume it’s safe. But “natural” doesn’t always mean harmless, especially as kratom products evolve.

2. What Is 7-OH (7-Hydroxymitragynine)?

7-hydroxymitragynine (often shortened to 7-OH) is a chemical compound found naturally in kratom, but only in very small amounts. Here’s the key point: 7-OH is far more potent than mitragynine, the primary compound in traditional kratom leaf.

Researchers have shown that 7-OH acts strongly on the brain’s opioid receptors—the same receptors involved in heroin, fentanyl, and prescription pain medications.

3. Why 7-OH Is Different From Traditional Kratom

Older kratom products contained mostly mitragynine, with trace levels of 7-OH. Newer products are different.

Some manufacturers are now:

• Concentrating 7-OH

• Adding synthetic 7-OH

• Enhancing kratom extracts to make them much stronger

This changes kratom from a mildly psychoactive plant into something closer to a powerful opioid-like substance.

That’s why you may hear people refer to these products simply as “7-OH.”

4. How New Kratom Products Are Being Engineered

Many newer kratom products are not just ground leaves. They may be:

• Liquid shots

• Gummies

• Tablets

• High-potency extracts

These products can deliver much higher doses of 7-OH than traditional kratom ever did naturally.

The problem? There’s no consistent labeling, no dosing standards, and no clear way to know how much 7-OH you’re actually taking. And many products are tainted with fentanyl.

5. Health Risks and Side Effects

As 7-OH levels increase, so do the risks.

Reported side effects include:

• Nausea and vomiting

• Sedation and dizziness

• Constipation

• Increased tolerance

• Withdrawal symptoms when stopping

At higher doses, the risks look even more familiar to clinicians who treat opioid use disorder:

• Breathing suppression

• Dependence

• Escalating use

• Overdose risk, especially when combined with alcohol or other sedatives

6. Kratom, 7-OH, and Addiction Risks

One of the most concerning aspects of 7-OH is how reinforcing it can be. Because it strongly activates opioid receptors, people may find themselves:

• Needing more to get the same effect

• Using it daily instead of occasionally

• Feeling sick or anxious when they skip a dose

• Having trouble stopping despite wanting to

This pattern mirrors what we see in opioid addiction, just with a product many people don’t think of as an opioid.

7. Why Regulators and Clinicians Are Concerned

Health experts are raising alarms because:

• 7-OH is more potent than morphine in some lab studies

• Products are being sold with little oversight

• Marketing often downplays addiction risk

• Many users don’t realize they’re taking an opioid-like substance

This is why certain states and agencies are beginning to target 7-OH-enhanced kratom products, even where kratom itself remains legal.

8. Kratom Use and Opioid Recovery

Some people turn to kratom to avoid relapse or manage opioid withdrawal. While the intention makes sense, the reality can be complicated.

High-potency kratom or 7-OH products can:

• Prolong physical dependence

• Delay true recovery

• Make future withdrawal harder

• Increase relapse risk

In addiction treatment settings, we increasingly see patients who thought kratom was helping, only to realize later that it created a new dependency.

9. What to Do If You’re Using Kratom or 7-OH

If you’re currently using kratom or products labeled as 7-OH, helpful next steps include:

• Being honest about how much and how often you use

• Not stopping suddenly if you’re using daily

• Watching for withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, body aches, insomnia, or nausea

• Talking with a medical provider who understands addiction and harm reduction

Support doesn’t have to mean judgment.

10. How an Addiction Treatment Center Can Help

An addiction treatment center like Ultimate Treatment Center can help you:

• Understand what’s in the products you’re using

• Safely taper kratom or 7-OH if needed

• Treat withdrawal symptoms

• Address pain, anxiety, or trauma driving use

• Explore medication options when appropriate

You deserve clear information, and evidenced based treatment approaches.

Key Takeaways

• Kratom now includes high-potency products enhanced with 7-OH

• 7-OH strongly activates opioid receptors and increases addiction risk

• Many newer kratom products are far stronger than traditional leaf products.

• Dependence and withdrawal are real and increasingly common

• Support from an addiction treatment center can help you navigate next steps safely