By Paige Furin, Executive Director, Winning the Fight
I’ll be honest with you—I walk into gas stations and convenience stores all the time and grab an energy drink or a five-hour energy shot without thinking twice. It’s become second nature. But what if I told you that some of those colorful bottles and pill packs sitting right next to the Red Bull and the gum are actually synthetic opioids more powerful than morphine?
I’m talking about 7-OH—short for 7-hydroxymitragynine—and it may be the most dangerous thing most people have never heard of.
As someone in long-term recovery—sober from all mood and mind-altering substances since November 18, 2018—and as the Executive Director of Winning the Fight, a nonprofit dedicated to drug education and prevention, I’ve seen a lot. But what I’m seeing now with 7-OH is alarming in a way that keeps me up at night. Right now, I’m walking alongside a family whose adult son has become addicted to it. And they had no idea what it even was until it was too late.
That’s the thing about 7-OH. The danger isn’t coming from some dark alley. The call is coming from inside the house—or in this case, from inside your neighborhood gas station.
So What Is 7-OH, Exactly?
I’m not a scientist, so I’ll keep this simple. 7-OH—full name 7-hydroxymitragynine—is a compound that exists in tiny amounts in the kratom plant. Kratom has been around for years, marketed as a “natural” remedy for pain and energy. But what’s showing up at gas stations now isn’t really kratom. It’s a synthetically concentrated version of 7-OH, pumped into pills, gummies, energy shots, and drinks. Same colorful packaging. Totally different beast.
Here’s the number that stopped me cold: according to the Texas Department of State Health Services and multiple research studies, 7-OH is up to 13 times more potent than morphine. Morphine. A product you can grab off a gas station shelf, no ID, no prescription, no questions asked, is more powerful than one of the most addictive opioids on the planet.
The FDA isn’t mincing words about it either. They’ve called it exactly what it is: an opioid. Not a supplement. Not a plant medicine. An opioid—engineered to be addictive, dressed up in fruity flavors, and sitting right next to the Alani Nu.
So Why Can You Still Buy It at a Gas Station?
That’s the question I keep asking myself. In July 2025, the FDA formally recommended to the DEA that 7-OH be classified as a Schedule I controlled substance—the same category as heroin. And as of right now, it still hasn’t happened. The DEA review process includes a public comment period that could drag on for months. Maybe longer.
Meanwhile, kratom products are only banned outright in seven states and Washington D.C. Some states have partial regulations. Most have nothing. No age limits. No labeling requirements. No purity testing. Your kid could walk in after school and buy it today.
Some cities aren’t waiting around. Kansas City just passed a ban on synthetic 7-OH. Good for them. But one city at a time while this stuff spreads everywhere? That’s not a solution. That’s a band-aid on a gaping wound.
What Can You Actually Do?
First—start looking at labels. 7-OH products show up as energy shots, gummies, pills, and drinks. If you see “kratom,” “7-OH,” or “7-hydroxymitragynine” on a label at a gas station, that’s what you’re looking at.
Second—talk to your kids. I know that conversation feels awkward. Have it anyway. They’ve probably already seen this stuff. They might not know what it is. Now you do.
Third—share this. Seriously. The only reason this crisis is flying under the radar is because most people have never heard of 7-OH. The more people who know, the harder it is to ignore.
And if you or someone you love is already struggling with 7-OH or any substance—please reach out. At Winning the Fight, we don’t do judgment. We do experience, compassion, and real help. Because I’ve been where you are.
And I know the way out.
