American Kratom Association Praises Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary for Bold Action to Recommend Scheduling of Dangerous 7-OH Products
'Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary have shown exceptional leadership in confronting one of the most urgent public health threats related to mislabeled, manipulated psychoactive substances,' said Mac Haddow, senior fellow on public policy for the American Kratom Association. 'These 7-OH products are not kratom. They are chemically altered substances that carry potent opioid-like effects and pose an imminent threat to consumers. This move sends a clear and long-overdue message: the safety of the American public comes first.'
7-hydroxymitragynine is a metabolite — not a naturally occurring substance in the kratom plant — and occurs during the drying of kratom leaves at extremely low levels, typically less than 0.01%. However, unscrupulous manufacturers have exploited chemical manipulation to create concentrated 7-OH products that far exceed natural levels, creating high-potency, opioid-like effects that are addictive and potentially lethal. These products are often falsely marketed under the kratom name, misleading consumers and damaging the reputation of natural kratom, which has a vastly different safety profile.
The American Kratom Association has worked tirelessly to educate policymakers, regulators, and the public on the difference between natural kratom products and chemically manipulated 7-OH formulations. The AKA has advocated for state-based Kratom Consumer Protection Acts (KCPA) to ban the sale of adulterated and dangerously enhanced products. This federal scheduling recommendation is a landmark development that supports those efforts and establishes a much-needed national framework to protect consumers.
'The FDA's own research shows that natural kratom has a relatively low potential for abuse and may offer harm-reduction benefits when used responsibly,' Haddow continued. 'It is the synthetic manipulation of 7-OH that has created the danger. The action by Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary is not only scientifically justified, it is morally imperative.'
The AKA urges swift action by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to initiate the rule-making process to schedule synthetically manipulated 7-hydroxymitragynine and to make clear that such action does not impact the legal status of natural kratom or its primary alkaloids, mitragynine and unaltered 7-OH occurring within the plant matrix. The goal is to eliminate the threat posed by rogue products while preserving access to safe, regulated kratom.
'We look forward to working with federal agencies and state policymakers to ensure that safe access to natural kratom is protected, while these dangerous imposters are removed from the marketplace,' said Haddow.
Note: The FDA also released "Hiding in Plain Sight: 7-OH Products, opens new tab" to help educate the public.
About American Kratom Association (AKA)
American Kratom Association (AKA) is a consumer-based, nonprofit organization, focused on furthering the latest science as guidance for kratom public policy. AKA works to give a voice to millions of Americans by fighting to protect their rights to access safe and natural kratom. For more information, visit americankratom.org and learn more at kratomanswers.org.
Media Contact
Mac Haddowpress@americankratom.org
###
SOURCE: American Kratom Association (AKA)
Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire
See release on EZ Newswire
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
A £1.70 Shein top ruined my holiday when it burned an imprint into me – it blistered despite me wearing factor 30
Find out how Shein works and what other brands are listed on it SHEIN HORROR A £1.70 Shein top ruined my holiday when it burned an imprint into me – it blistered despite me wearing factor 30 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HOLIDAYMAKER claims a tank top from Shein reacted with her sun cream after being left with horror BURNS that she fears may cause 'nightmare scarring'. Soraya Young travelled with her boyfriend George Harris, 26, to Marmaris, Turkey, for a 12-day getaway as a break from renovating their house. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Soraya Young, 25, was holidaying in Marmaris Credit: Kennedy News & Media 7 She had purchased three tank tops to stock up for the warm weather Credit: Kennedy News & Media The 25-year-old had purchased a £4.99 pack of three tank tops back in April to stock up for the warmer weather and says she washed them before packing. The civil servant, who regularly applied factor 30 suncream while away, decided to wear one of the tops over her bikini top to keep 'modest' during a five-hour visit to the town. The following day George spotted a 'weird burn' on her back the following day, which the pair assumed was sunburn. But Soraya said over the next few days the 'tank top-shaped' burn began to blister and 'leak fluid' - leaving her in 'agony'. Soraya consulted a doctor and claims she was told it was likely caused by the top's fabric reacting with the sun or pool chlorine. After 'sobbing' in pain during her flight home on July 29th she visited a doctor who prescribed her antibiotics and cream to soothe the burn. Now, Soraya fears she'll be left with permanent scarring and urges people to 'think twice' about buying cheap clothes. Shein said it was the first complaint of this nature they'd received however they have removed the item from their website 'as a precautionary measure' while they investigate. Soraya, from Nottingham, East Midlands, said: "It definitely ruined the end of the holiday when it began to get horrendously painful. "I wore the top over my bikini to try and be a bit more modest. I didn't notice anything until the next day when we went on a boat trip. Millions of shoppers to see price hike from popular discount sites Shein and Temu – but there's an American alternative "My partner said to me 'you've got quite a weird burn on your back'. It just looked like sunburn and I didn't clock it was in the shape of a vest at first. "As the days went on it started to get more and more sore. It started to blister and it was red raw. "When I was trying to sleep at night it was agony. It began to leak fluid towards the end of the holiday. "If I moved my arm, it made me wince so I was trying not to move my arms and head that much. It was difficult to even wear a bikini. "George picked up on why it is in the shape of a vest. Obviously with sunburn it would be around the sides like my shoulders and back." In pain, Soraya visited a doctor in Turkey and claims he said the burn was caused by her tank top. Soraya said: "The doctor took a look at it and was absolutely gobsmacked. "I was pretty shocked and panicked and I thought 'what have I done?'. "The worst part is not only the pain but the actual shape of it. It looks like I'm permanently wearing a vest." After a painful flight home she visited a doctor who she says also claimed the vest was the culprit, prescribing her antibiotics and cream to apply multiple times a day. Soraya said: "I just wanted to get some sleep on the flight because I'd been awake all day but trying to sit back on the plane chair was absolutely unbearable. "I was sobbing, I couldn't exactly take my t-shirt off in the middle of the flight. "The doctor said 'it's obviously a burn'. I showed the doctors the vest and they said it definitely has something to do with it because of the shape it's in. "I'm just paranoid about it scarring. It's a nightmare." 7 Soraya was left with horror burns Credit: Kennedy News & Media 7 She says the pain was 'unbearable' Credit: Kennedy News & Media Soraya has since complained to Shein but says she's yet to receive a reply. The fashion lover is now urging people to 'think twice' before ordering budget clothing. Soraya said: "I'm surprised because it's such a popular brand. "I washed the clothing before and I've never had any issues with it until now. I'll never buy anything from Shein again. "The thing that worries me is lots of people buy stuff for children there. "Children's skin is a hell of a lot more sensitive. I was thinking 'imagine if that was a child'." A Shein spokesperson said: "Shein takes product safety very seriously and is committed to offering safe and reliable products to its customers. Since becoming aware of this claim we have removed the item from our site as a precautionary measure while we investigate. "Shein works closely with international third-party testing agencies such as Intertek, SGS, BV and TUV SUD to ensure compliance with product safety standards. "This is the first complaint of this nature that we have received for this item and we are taking it very seriously." How does Shein work and are other brands listed on their website? Known for their cheap clothing, Shein sells its own products and acts as a marketplace for third-party sellers. They do not sell designer brands, and in the past have been plagued by accusations of counterfeits and copyright violations. Previously brands like Ralph Lauren and Oakley have sued the fashion giant for violating their intellectual property rights. 7 Soraya was left with a tank top shaped burn Credit: Kennedy News & Media 7 She worries it will leave her with 'nightmare scarring' Credit: Kennedy News & Media
Times
11 hours ago
- Times
Nearly half of doctors in Scotland witness care failings every week
Almost half of Scotland's doctors witness patient safety being compromised at least once a week, the medical regulator has said. The General Medical Council (GMC) found that 46 per cent of clinicians north of the border see care failings weekly, a higher proportion than elsewhere in the UK. Backlogs in accident and emergency departments, resulting in thousands of patients stuck on trolleys for hours queueing for beds, are thought to be one of the issues driving potential errors. Dr Iain Kennedy, chair of the British Medical Association in Scotland, described the findings as extremely alarming and said that the doctor workforce was operating at 'dangerously low levels'. The latest GMC survey showed a reduction in the number of doctors noting safety incidents weekly in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since 2023 — but an increase in Scotland. Its report, published on Thursday, said: 'In 2024, Scotland fared worse than the UK average in some areas — most notably on patient safety.' Dr Sandesh Gulhane, a GP and health spokesman for the Scottish Conservative Party, said emergency measures such as treating patients in corridors had become routine. He added that staff did not always have access to the life-saving equipment they needed and were more prone to making mistakes because of the pressures, compromising patient safety. 'Nearly two decades of chronic SNP mismanagement has brought our health service to its knees and patients are being put in danger as a result,' he said. The GMC, which serves to protect the public by ensuring high standards of medical training and practice UK-wide, analyses staff experiences on the frontline of the NHS every year. Last year 450 doctors in Scotland participated in the survey and a total of 4,700 were involved UK-wide. Asked if they found it difficult to provide sufficient care for a patient at least once a week, 42 per cent in Scotland said they did, compared with 39 per cent in England. Across the UK 40 per cent of doctors said they had witnessed patient safety or care being compromised at least once a week — 6 per cent less than in Scotland. Clinicians in Scotland also felt less empowered to bring about improvements with 40 per cent saying they could not influence change, compared with 35 per cent for the UK as a whole. Just 37 per cent felt supported by non-medical managers, while the figure was 42 per cent UK-wide. Kennedy said: 'BMA Scotland has been warning for some time that doctor workforce provision in Scotland's NHS is at dangerously low levels, which leads to patients having to wait far too long for treatment and doctors who are stretched to breaking point.' 'There is a major question over how waiting lists can be tackled and how any extra capacity in the health service can be delivered when there are not enough consultants to keep up with current demand and while GP practices are struggling to deliver the services their patients deserve. This is a result of the devastating impact of years of underinvestment which has left many GP practices unable to take on more GPs due to a lack of funding.' He added that it was alarming to see from the survey that 22 per cent of doctors in Scotland were likely to consider moving overseas. This was compared with 27 per cent in the UK as a whole. Dame Jackie Baillie, a health spokeswoman for Scottish Labour, said: 'There are exceptional staff in our NHS who work diligently to care for patients. They are the ones raising the alarm about patient safety, so this is a wake-up call for the Scottish government who are far too complacent.' Fiona Hunter, vice-president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Scotland, said: 'This survey is a barometer of how clinicians are feeling, and what they are experiencing at work — and it reveals a saddening and shocking reality. She said the failures were not the fault of the clinicians. 'They are battling in a struggling system, and despite their best efforts, sadly some patients are being put at risk,' she said. 'The Scottish government must listen to the voices of those in this report — and heed the alarm bells so clearly sounding. Our members, their colleagues, and our patients across the country deserve so much better.' A Scottish government spokesman said: 'Patient safety is paramount and we will ensure any concerns raised by the GMC are fully considered and addressed. 'We want doctors to feel their voices are heard — our Future Medical Workforce project will collect direct feedback from physicians in the coming months to help shape future reforms in training and recruitment and ensure being a doctor is a sustainable and fulfilling career path.'
The Independent
13 hours ago
- The Independent
Family issues warning as son dies after taking highly addictive over-the-counter supplement: ‘The government doesn't step in'
A family in Washington is warning about the dangers of kratom — a supplement that can be bought in some gas stations — after they say their son died from using the substance. On the day Jordan McKibban, 37, died in 2022, he reportedly mixed kratom with his lemonade, according to his mother, Pam Mauldin, who spoke to the New York Post. Kratom is marketed as an "all-natural" supplement that can help reduce pain, anxiety, and depression, among other ailments. For some individuals who are wary of typical pharmaceutical medicines — as McKibban reportedly was — kratom can be an attractive alternative. Mauldin found her son unconscious in his room after he drank the kratom-lemonade mixture. She attempted CPR, but could not revive him. 'I've lost my son. I've lost my grandchildren that I could have had, I've lost watching him walk down that aisle, watching him have a life that I get to watch with my other kids. I've lost enjoying these years with him,' she told the New York Post. After his death, an autopsy found that McKibban death was caused by mitragynine, which is found in ktraom. Kratom is made from a Southeast Asian plant and can act as a stimulant when taken in lower doses and a sedative when taken at higher doses. The substance can be bought from online retailers and in stores legally. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration notes that kratom hasn't been shown to be safe or effective at treating any medical conditions. The agency has described it as a "drug of concern." Despite its open availability, national poison control centers have documented 1,807 calls about kratom exposure between 2011 and 2017, and the calls are becoming more frequent, according to Dr Michael Greco, who spoke to the New York Post. He warned that kratom use can, in some people, cause them to experience agitation and "sometimes even psychosis." However, kratom deaths are rare. In McKibban's situation, he was told that he could not overdose on the substance, and that he would simply vomit if he took too much, according to his mother. She noted that her son's kratom bags had no instructions on them or dosage suggestions. 'There have been hundreds of people killed from this, and they don't pull it. The government doesn't step in,' she said. That may be changing. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy Jr announced in late July that he plans to crack down on kratom. 'I became an addict because [heroin] was so available, but I had to go to the South Bronx or the Lower East Side. But now you can go to any gas station,' Kennedy told reporters on July 29 while discussing the substance. 'They're marketing them to children: They're gummy bears, they're bright colors, they're candy-flavored. This is really a sinister, sinister industry.' He was referring to a reportedly more addictive and possibly more dangerous offshoot of kratom called 7-hydroxymitragynine. Dr Robert Levy, an addiction and family doctor, told the New York Post that the substance can have similar effects to opioids. 'There's always been concern around kratom because if you take enough of it, kratom does act like an opioid, and people can become addicted to it and have withdrawal from it and overdose on it and ruin their lives on it, like anybody else that has a substance use disorder,' Levy said. He said the offshoot product that is "much more addicting and much more problematic" has infiltrated the market, and many consumers don't know the difference. The FDA recently recommended 7-hydroxymitragynine be classified as an illicit substance. '7-OH is an opioid that can be more potent than morphine,' FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, said in a press release. 'We need regulation and public education to prevent another wave of the opioid epidemic.' Levy recommended that parents talk to their children or loved ones about the substance and remind them that just because something is "all-natural" and plant-derived does not mean it's safe for consumption. "Arsenic is also from a plant," he noted. He advised that anyone with a family member struggling with substance abuse of any kind to seek out available resources and treatment options.
