Kratom and 7-OH: What Parents Need to Know About “Gas Station Heroin”

If you've walked past the counter at a gas station or smoke shop lately, you've probably seen kratom without knowing it. Brightly colored packets. Fruit-flavored gummies. Little shot bottles that look a lot like the energy drinks next to them. There's also a newer, far stronger version of it called 7-OH — and it's quietly become one of the biggest things we're hearing about in our parent coaching sessions right now.

A Wall Street Journal report this week put a spotlight on just how big this has gotten: kratom is now a multibillion-dollar industry sold in convenience stores and gas stations across the country, marketed as a natural remedy for pain, low energy, and sleep. A growing number of states are moving to ban it.

Here's what every parent of a teen or young adult should understand about kratom, 7-OH, and why it's being called “gas station heroin.”

What Is Kratom?

Kratom comes from the leaf of a tree native to Southeast Asia. It's sold as a “natural supplement” for energy, focus, pain, and anxiety — and that word natural is doing a lot of heavy lifting in how it's marketed.

The catch: kratom acts on the same brain receptors as opioids. In small amounts it can act like a stimulant; in larger amounts, more like a sedative. Regular use can lead to tolerance, dependence, and real withdrawal — the kind that looks a lot like coming off other opioids.

Kratom is legal in most places, but it is largely unregulated. That means no one is reliably checking what's actually in the package, or how strong it is.

What Is 7-OH, the So-Called “Gas Station Heroin”?

This is the part most parents haven't heard yet.

Kratom leaf naturally contains a trace amount of a compound called 7-hydroxymitragynine — 7-OH for short. Around 2023, companies started selling concentrated, lab-enhanced versions of 7-OH and putting them in tablets, gummies, drink mixes, and shots.

Concentrated 7-OH is estimated to be many times more potent than morphine. It's earned the nickname “gas station heroin,” and federal officials have warned it could fuel the next wave of the opioid crisis. These products are often sold as “kratom” or “natural,” even though the 7-OH inside has been synthetically boosted to levels you'd never find in a plain leaf.

That gap between the label and the product is exactly what makes this dangerous for a young person who thinks they're buying something harmless.

Why Kratom and 7-OH Are a Parent Issue, Specifically

A few things stack up in a way that should get every caregiver's attention:

It's marketed to look like candy. Gummies, bright packaging, fruit and candy flavors, even ice cream cone shapes. Regulators have said outright that these products appear designed to appeal to teens and young adults.
It's easy to get. These products sit on shelves at gas stations, convenience stores, vape shops, and online — often right next to snacks and energy drinks.
It's hard to spot. Once a gummy or a shot is out of its wrapper, it can be nearly impossible for a parent to identify. It doesn't look like a “drug.” It looks like the stuff already in your kid's backpack.
It's all over social media. These products are increasingly promoted on the same platforms your teen is already scrolling.

Kratom Overdose and Poison Control Statistics

This isn't a fringe concern anymore. A few data points worth sitting with:

Calls to U.S. poison-control centers involving kratom have jumped roughly twelvefold over the past decade.
One national study found kratom exposures reported to poison centers rose from 19 cases in 2010 to more than 1,200 in 2023 — a more than 65-fold increase — with severe outcomes climbing alongside them.
The CDC found kratom present in more than 5,200 fatal overdoses between 2020 and 2024.
The danger climbs sharply when kratom is mixed with other substances — alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, or antidepressants. The large majority of kratom-related deaths involved more than one substance.

Reported harms range from nausea, vomiting, and agitation to rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, liver damage, seizures, trouble breathing, and dependence. Some young people have described getting hooked fast — going through many products a day and facing rough withdrawal when they try to stop.

Is Kratom Legal in Florida?

If you're a South Florida parent, this is close to home. Florida already made it illegal to sell kratom to anyone under 21. On top of that, the state moved to classify concentrated 7-OH as a Schedule 1 controlled substance and directed retailers to pull those products off shelves.

Nationally, the DEA has moved to temporarily place concentrated and synthetic 7-OH in the same category as heroin and LSD. Importantly, these actions target the concentrated and synthetic products — not necessarily the plain leaf — which is part of why the labeling on the shelf can be so confusing.

Kratom Warning Signs: What You Can Actually Do

You don't need to panic, and you don't need to be an expert on opioid pharmacology. A few practical moves go a long way:

Learn the words. Kratom, 7-OH, 7-hydroxymitragynine, “gas station heroin.” If you see these on a package, treat it as an opioid-like product, not a supplement.
Talk about it plainly. “Natural” and “legal” do not mean “safe.” A lot of young people genuinely don't know that. A calm, non-accusatory conversation lands better than a lecture.
Know what to look for. Small shot bottles, gummies, powders, and tablets marketed for energy, focus, calm, or pain relief — especially anything picked up at a gas station or smoke shop.
Watch for withdrawal signs. Irritability, restlessness, trouble sleeping, nausea, or sweating that shows up when your teen hasn't had access to something.
Don't go it alone. If you think your teen or young adult is using — or already struggling with dependence — the right support early makes an enormous difference.

Sources & Further Reading

Wall Street Journal coverage of kratom's growth and state bans (Aug 2026)
CDC / MMWR: Increases in Kratom-Related Reports to Poison Centers (2015–2024)
Addiction (2026): national analysis of kratom poison-center exposures and severe outcomes
FDA: FDA and Kratom; warning letters on 7-OH products
DEA: temporary scheduling of 7-OH and related substances (July 2026)
Florida Attorney General: emergency rule scheduling 7-OH

*This blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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