FDA Recommends Scheduling 7-OH, a Kratom Byproduct, as Illicit Drug

Public Health's Reactive History

• ⚠️ Public health has a history of being asleep at the wheel, responding to health crises years after substances become widely used, as seen with cigarettes, heroin, crack, cocaine, and OxyContin.
• 💡 The speaker emphasizes the need to prevent disasters rather than just cleaning them up after significant harm has occurred.
• 📍 Understanding problems requires proximity, not just discussions in academic settings.

FDA's Stance on 7-OH and Kratom

• 🎯 The FDA is targeting a concentrated synthetic byproduct of the Kratom plant called 7-OH, not the raw Kratom leaf or its ground form.
• 📈 7-OH is identified as having a high risk of addiction and abuse due to its ability to bind to opioid receptors.
• ⚖️ The Trump administration is urging the DEA to classify 7-OH as a Schedule 1 illicit drug, similar to heroin and LSD.
• 🚫 This action is specifically aimed at products with concentrated levels of 7-OH, not trace amounts naturally found in the plant.

Concerns with Illicit Vape Products

• 💨 Approximately 85% of vape products are illegal, according to the FDA, as they are not on the approved list.
• 🍬 Fruity flavors, video game-like devices, candies, gummies, drinks, and ice cream cones are among the illegal vape products, many designed to appeal to children.
• 🧪 The speaker questions the public health community's understanding of substances like 7-OH when added to drinks or other products.
• 👶 The urgency to act is framed around protecting the nation's children from another potential public health crisis.