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News
Addiction clinics across the U.S. are seeing a dramatic spike in patients dependent on kratom and its more potent derivative, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). One telehealth clinic saw kratom-related new patients jump from 3% to 14% in under a year. Despite being sold over the counter and marketed as a wellness product, these substances can trigger severe opioid-like withdrawal.
Addiction treatment centers across the U.S. are sounding the alarm over a sharp rise in patients dependent on kratom and its more potent derivative, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). At Boulder Care, a telehealth clinic, the share of new patients reporting kratom use skyrocketed from 3% in September 2025 to 14% by August 2026. Meanwhile, inpatient clinics run by Recovery Centers of America in Massachusetts went from admitting roughly one kratom patient per week to 10–20 per week — many presenting with severe withdrawal symptoms.
The concern centers on 7-OH, a compound that acts directly on opioid receptors in the brain, producing effects similar to traditional opioids like euphoria and sedation. Unlike natural kratom, 7-OH is often found in high concentrations in newer products — some of which are misleadingly marketed as plain kratom. Patients in recovery from opioid use disorder are particularly vulnerable, with some losing control quickly after trying these products.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: With inconsistent state-level regulations and no finalized federal ban on high-potency 7-OH, patients are accessing powerful opioid-like substances with little warning. Clinicians need to screen for kratom and 7-OH use, especially in patients presenting with opioid withdrawal symptoms or those already in recovery.
