Overview
What Are Kratom and 7-OH?
What kratom is
Kratom is a tropical tree (Mitragyna speciosa) native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves contain over 50 alkaloids, two of which matter most clinically: mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). Both act on the same mu-opioid receptors as prescription opioids, which is why kratom produces opioid-like effects and why regular use can lead to physical dependence and opioid-style withdrawal.
7-OH is the more potent of the two at the mu-opioid receptor, and modern concentrated 7-OH products deliver doses of this alkaloid far higher than what the plant naturally produces — which is why the FDA has specifically warned that synthetically enhanced 7-OH products carry greater risk of overdose, physical dependence, and withdrawal than whole-leaf kratom.
How the products changed
Then
Kratom has historically been sold as raw leaf powder and capsules, often marketed as a “natural” supplement for energy, mood, or pain.
Now
Over the past few years, concentrated extracts and isolated 7-OH products — sold as tablets, lozenges, gummies, and liquid shots at gas stations, smoke shops, and online — have become common.
Because potency can vary enormously between brands and batches, many patients describe using more and more to get the same effect, and developing withdrawal symptoms hours after a dose they previously tolerated. This pattern matches the Tennessee Department of Health’s 2026 finding that withdrawal is now the leading reason Tennesseans visit the emergency room after using kratom.
How the law changed
Kratom laws are still changing. Latest status: 7-OH ban tracker · kratom laws by state
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January 2025
The DEA designated kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine as “Drugs of Concern”.
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July 2025
The FDA issued warning letters to seven 7-OH product manufacturers and formally recommended that concentrated 7-OH products be scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act.
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In Tennessee, HB1649/SB1656 (“Matthew Davenport’s Law”) passed both the House and Senate.
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May 7, 2026
Gov. Bill Lee signed Matthew Davenport’s Law (Public Chapter 950), effective July 1, 2026.
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July 1, 2026
Tennessee became the eighth state to fully ban kratom. The penalties:
Offense Penalty Knowing possession
Class A misdemeanorUp to 11 months 29 days and a $2,500 fine Manufacture, delivery, or sale
Class C felony3 to 15 years and up to a $10,000 fine Sale to a minor
Class B felony8 to 30 years and up to a $25,000 fine -
October 14, 2026
On July 6, 2026 the DEA published a notice of intent (91 FR 40917) to temporarily place 7-OH above a specified threshold in Schedule I. On October 14, 2026 it replaced that notice with a new one (91 FR 65370) that covers 7-OH and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl above a new threshold. The new notice says an order will not be issued before November 13, 2026.
HB2594, the regulatory alternative that would have capped 7-OH content and required lab testing, did not advance to a floor vote.
Georgia has not banned kratom. The state regulates it under the Georgia Kratom Consumer Protection Act.
Stopping because of the ban?
If you’re physically dependent on kratom or 7-OH, please do not stop cold turkey just because the ban took effect. Abrupt cessation is relapse-prone and uncomfortable; the medically safer path is a buprenorphine-based transition — which we provide regardless of your kratom or 7-OH use history.
How we treat it
Restoration Recovery specifically treats kratom and 7-OH dependence. Because the mechanism is opioid-like, the medication options that work for opioid use disorder — Suboxone, Sublocade, and Brixadi — also work for kratom and 7-OH dependence. Our providers have clinical experience treating both whole-leaf kratom and concentrated 7-OH dependence, and tailor treatment to the distinct withdrawal profile of each.
Newer semi-synthetic 7-OH analogs are now appearing in the U.S. market, such as MGM-15 and MGM-16 — laboratory-made compounds in the same opioid class. They act on the same mu-opioid receptors as 7-OH, so we use the same buprenorphine-based treatment for them. We treat dependence on these analogs directly — see our MGM-15 & Oxonol treatment page — and for the underlying science, our explainer on 7-OH versus concentrated kratom products.
How long withdrawal lasts
For unmanaged kratom withdrawal, patients usually describe the worst stretch as the first 7 to 10 days, though it varies, and concentrated 7-OH often hits sooner than leaf. Buprenorphine shortens that stretch and makes it far easier to get through, because it works on the same opioid receptors kratom and 7-OH do. At your first visit the provider will walk you through what to expect for your own situation.

