The Food and Drug Administration recommended that a compound called 7-hydroxymitragynine (also known as 7-OH) derived from kratom that is used in energy drinks, gummies, and dietary supplements be scheduled with the most restricted illicit drugs, like heroin, and LSD. The FDA said it made its recommendation because 7-OH has a “high risk of addiction” and abuse due to its ability to bind to opioid receptors in the brain. Accompanying the scheduling recommendation, the FDA also released a report detailing the dangers of 7-OH.
