FDA Seeks Controlled Substance Status For Potent Synthetic Opioid Sold In Gas Station Gummies

The FDA on Tuesday recommended classifying 7-OH as a Schedule I controlled substance, according to NBC News. The synthetic compound has opioid-like effects and is found in unregulated products sold at gas stations and online. The agency warned that 7-OH, often misrepresented as kratom, may be more potent than morphine and linked to seizures, organ damage, and deaths. The DEA will now review the recommendation, which could restrict or prohibit the sale of 7-OH products. Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill warned of a sharp rise in overdoses, poisonings, and ER visits tied to 7-OH products. He said these products are often sold without dosage controls or safety warnings, calling the situation a public health disaster. Kratom advocates pushed back, saying the real-world danger remains unproven.