The Berrien County Health Department is warning everyone about the dangers of an over-the-counter drug that’s been growing in popularity around the country.
Health Officer Guy Miller tells us many kratom products contain a synthetic opioid called 7-OH. People buy kratom as an energy booster, a mood lifter, a pain reliever, and a remedy for symptoms of quitting opioids, but it’s not safe. He says there’s one major problem with it.
“Withdrawal symptoms are severe,” Miller said. “People get very, very sick after not having their dosage of kratom if they’ve been on it for a while. And some of the providers are saying it takes a lot more opioid reversal drugs to get people at a good place after they’ve been on this drug than than it would like a natural opioid.”
Miller says kratom products can come in the form of pills or even drinks. He adds it’s all the more dangerous because it’s almost totally unregulated.
“A lot of the people using it just assume that since it is legal and it is labeled natural it must be safe, and that’s not always true because what I’m hearing from local providers is very innocently people have been taking this product and getting really really sick from it.”
Miller says 7-OH is also not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for any medical use and is not permitted as a dietary supplement because it’s not met safety standards.
The Berrien County Health Department urges everyone to be informed about the risks associated with unregulated supplements and to talk with their doctor before trying products marketed for pain or mood relief. Miller says don’t assume something is safe just because it’s legal.
