As RFK Jr Cracks Down On 7-OH, A Washington Family Issues Warning Against Kratom As Their Son Dies After Taking The OTC Supplement

In a tragic case that has reignited scrutiny over unregulated herbal supplements, a family from Washington state is sounding the alarm on kratom, a substance often sold as a natural alternative to pharmaceuticals, after their 37-year-old son, Jordan McKibban, died from using it. Their warning comes just as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr announces a federal crackdown on a powerful compound derived from kratom known as 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH.What is Kratom?Kratom is a plant-based product derived from the Mitragyna speciosa tree, native to Southeast Asia. Traditionally used in countries like Thailand and Malaysia for pain relief and energy boosts, it has in recent years gained popularity in the U.S. as an over-the-counter supplement. It's sold in gas stations, smoke shops, and online in various forms, powders, pills, teas, and even gummies.At low doses, kratom acts as a stimulant, while at higher doses it behaves like a sedative. However, experts warn that kratom has addictive properties, and its effects can mirror those of opioids. It is not regulated by the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), and while it is legal in many parts of the U.S., the agency has described it as a “drug of concern.”Also Read: 'Your Gut Is Your Second Brain': Why Looking Fit Can Still Mean You Are UnhealthyWhat is 7-OH and How Is It Related?7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) is a naturally occurring compound found in kratom, and it is far more potent. While kratom itself contains a mixture of alkaloids, 7-OH is an isolated extract or concentrated form that interacts with the body’s opioid receptors much more strongly.Medical experts say 7-OH can be more potent than morphine. “7-OH is an opioid that can be more potent than morphine,” FDA Commissioner Martin Makary recently stated. The FDA has proposed that 7-OH be classified as an illicit substance, citing rising concerns over its addictive potential and opioid-like effects.A Family’s Grief and WarningJordan McKibban, according to his mother Pam Mauldin, was cautious about pharmaceutical medications and sought alternative solutions for managing anxiety and other health concerns. On the day of his death in 2022, he mixed kratom into his lemonade, a routine he had reportedly followed before.Mauldin found her son unconscious and was unable to revive him. An autopsy later confirmed that his death was linked to mitragynine, one of kratom’s primary alkaloids.“There have been hundreds of people killed from this, and they don’t pull it. The government doesn’t step in,” Mauldin told The New York Post. “I’ve lost my son. I’ve lost the grandchildren I could have had. I’ve lost watching him walk down the aisle.”She added that the kratom packages in her son’s possession had no dosage instructions or warning labels, a dangerous loophole that remains common due to the lack of FDA regulation.RFK Jr’s Crackdown on 7-OHSpeaking at a July 29 press conference, Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr shared his personal experience with addiction, stating that the easy availability of kratom products, many sold at gas stations and marketed in child-friendly formats like gummy bears, is “a sinister, sinister industry.”Kennedy and FDA Commissioner Makary announced they were beginning the process to classify 7-OH as an illicit drug. The move, if approved by the DEA, would restrict sales and manufacturing of 7-OH-based products.“I became an addict because heroin was so available, but I had to go to the South Bronx or the Lower East Side,” Kennedy said. “Now, you can go to any gas station. They’re marketing them to children.”While the FDA crackdown currently targets 7-OH, not kratom in its entirety, the announcement has sparked broader concern about the regulation, or lack thereof, of over-the-counter supplements that claim to be “natural” but may carry serious health risks.The Regulatory Grey ZoneDespite kratom’s accessibility, the FDA has not approved it for any medical uses and continues to warn consumers about potential health risks, including addiction, liver damage, and even death. Between 2011 and 2017, national poison control centers received 1,807 calls related to kratom exposure.Dr. Robert Levy, a family and addiction physician, pointed out that many people don’t realize the distinction between traditional kratom and 7-OH. “There’s always been concern around kratom because if you take enough of it, kratom does act like an opioid. People can become addicted and have withdrawal or overdose,” he said.He added that the 7-OH version is “much more addicting and much more problematic” and often sold without consumers’ awareness of what they’re ingesting.A Growing National ConcernPublic interest in kratom exploded recently after a viral TikTok video recounted a teenage boy attempting to steal a Feel Free tonic, a kratom-infused drink, from a stranger outside a gas station. Though the company behind the drink insists it contains only trace levels of 7-OH and now restricts sales to adults over 21, the case has highlighted the growing concern around how these products are marketed and accessed by young people.Some companies, like Botanic Tonics, have supported the FDA’s move against synthetic derivatives like 7-OH while continuing to advocate for access to traditional kratom products with a long history of use. Still, experts argue that even natural kratom carries risk.

As RFK Jr Cracks Down On 7-OH, A Washington Family Issues Warning Against Kratom As Their Son Dies After Taking The OTC Supplement

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