Texas Families Against “Gas Station Opioids”
A powerful drug sold next to the energy drinks.
We tell families the truth, and work to get it off the shelf.
- 13× more potent than morphine, by classic lab assay
- 60 milligrams per tablet, sold over the counter
- 96% concentration in products tested by the Attorney General. Legal cap: 2%
- 192 Texas kratom-related poison-control reports in 2025, up from 107 the year before
Need help now? In an emergency, call 911. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7). SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357), free treatment referral, 24/7.
Jonas’s story
Jonas was 19: a musician, an adventurer, a son. He was an accomplished All-State trumpet player and a two-time Texas 6A marching band state champion.
He was nearing the end of his freshman year at Oklahoma State, where he was majoring in music and enjoying the outdoors. Like many young people, he was also quietly navigating anxiety and depression.
In April 2026, Jonas died after taking a concentrated 7-OH product, an opioid-strength compound that is sold openly at a gas station.
We share Jonas’s story because his life was so much bigger than the way it ended, and because we don’t want another life to end the same way.
Until that day, his family had never heard of 7-OH. Most families don’t, until it shows up in a toxicology report.
It’s not just kratom
If the package says kratom alkaloids 7-hydroxy pseudo MGM treat it as an opioid product.
These are far more concentrated than natural leaf kratom. They are concentrated opioid compounds sold next to candy, energy drinks, and vape products.
- Kratom leaf The plant itself, sold as powder, capsules, or tea. Its main active compound is mitragynine, and it contains only trace amounts of 7-OH. Kratom leaf (Mitragyna speciosa)
- Mitragynine The main alkaloid in traditional kratom leaf. Far weaker than 7-OH on its own, but still opioid-active and often present alongside 7-OH in toxicology reports. Mitragynine
- 7-OH A potent opioid-active compound that occurs naturally in kratom leaf only in trace amounts. Concentrated 7-OH products can deliver levels the natural leaf cannot. The compound activates the brain’s opioid receptors and can cause sedation, respiratory depression, and dependence. 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine)
- MGPI A lab manufactured, high-potency analog related to 7-OH. Not a natural kratom leaf ingredient. A potent mu-opioid agonist with risks of dependence and respiratory depression. Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI)
- MGM-15 A semi-synthetic 7-OH analog already appearing in “next-gen” products. Even stronger than 7-OH, it is being added to products to replace 7-OH as rules tighten. MGM-15 (dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine)
- MGM-16 A lab-made analog designed for even stronger opioid effect, likely to appear as a substitute if 7-OH is restricted. MGM-16
What it does to the body, even taken alone
- Slows or stops breathing (respiratory depression)
- Sedation, confusion, loss of consciousness
- Rapid tolerance and opioid-like physical dependence
- Withdrawal that looks like opioid withdrawal
- Seizures, vomiting, pinpoint pupils, unresponsiveness
- Overdose and death, documented with concentrated products
There is no established safe dose. Labels often do not match what is actually in the tablet.
Mixed with other substances
- Alcohol
- Stacked sedation. Breathing slows further. Judgment about “just one more tablet” disappears. Alcohol has been present in multiple confirmed 7-OH fatalities.
- Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Valium)
- One of the highest-risk combinations. Two depressants hitting the same system: profound sedation, respiratory failure, coma.
- Other opioids (pills, heroin, fentanyl)
- The opioid load stacks. Overdose risk rises sharply.
One tablet, gummy, or drink can stop your breathing.
Mixed with another depressant drug, like alcohol or a benzodiazepine, the risk multiplies.
If someone will not wake up or is not breathing: call 911, give naloxone (Narcan), and stay with them. 7-OH can outlast a single dose, so a person may wake up and then crash again. Be ready to give a second dose.
How strong is 7-OH?
- 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) occurs naturally in kratom leaf, but only in trace amounts, well under 2% of the plant’s alkaloid content.
- The products on gas-station and other retail shelves aren’t that. They’re chemically concentrated, as high as 96% 7-OH in products tested by the Attorney General, nearly 50 times Texas’s 2% legal cap.
- 7-OH binds the same opioid receptors as morphine and fentanyl. Lab estimates put it at roughly 13× the potency of morphine. The overdose mechanism is the same one: it stops your breathing. Naloxone (Narcan) can reverse the opioid effect.
- It’s a class, not one chemical. Related analogs, including mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI), MGM-15, and MGM-16, can be just as dangerous, which is why Jonas’s Law covers the whole kratom family, from the leaf to the lab-made analogs, rather than chasing a single molecule.
- There is no FDA-approved medical use. 7-OH is not lawful in dietary supplements or conventional foods.
How the body metabolizes it
- When someone takes a product made of traditional kratom leaf, the liver converts some mitragynine into 7-OH. In other words, even “just kratom” can produce 7-OH inside the body, but in much smaller amounts than a 60 mg 7-OH gas station tablet.
- When someone swallows a concentrated 7-OH product, they skip that step. The body does not get a buffer and instead gets a rapid rush of the opioid effects right away.
- The body can also convert 7-OH into mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI), another high-potency kratom analog. MGPI is also manufactured directly and added to products.
Why now
Temporary federal action is not state law.
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The FDA recommends scheduling concentrated 7-OH products under the Controlled Substances Act and warns the public that 7-OH is an opioid more potent than morphine.
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Jonas, 19, dies after taking a concentrated 7-OH product sold openly at a gas station.
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A 29-year-old man dies in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, after buying a 7-OH product at a local shop. Five weeks later, a second man dies in nearby Craig. Autopsy and toxicology reports attribute both deaths to kratom toxicity.
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Grammy-nominated record producer Tay Keith is found dead in his Nashville apartment. The medical examiner later rules his death an accidental overdose involving mitragynine, 7-OH, MGPI, and ketamine.
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The DEA publishes two Notices of Intent: one to temporarily place concentrated 7-OH in Schedule I, one to place three related analogs (MGPI, MGM-15, MGM-16) in Schedule I.
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A team member is handed 60 mg 7-OH tablets from under the counter at an Austin smoke shop, a product the state’s 2% cap is supposed to keep off the market.
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Texas restricts many hemp-derived products. The next legal intoxicant on the same counter is already there.
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The DEA issues a temporary Schedule I order for the three analogs. It lasts two years unless extended. Concentrated 7-OH itself remains in the scheduling process.
Federal agencies have finally recognized the problem. Unfortunately, most states have loopholes allowing widespread availability.
Temporary federal action is not state law.
- A two-year emergency order can expire. Analogs can be swapped. Retailers can relabel. If states do not close the class and give local law enforcement a real statute, the products stay on the same shelves.
The market is moving faster than the law
- Concentrated 7-OH and related “alkaloid” products have been one of the fastest growing categories in smoke shops and convenience stores, with industry estimates cited in the 15-20% annual growth range and no sign of a natural slowdown.
- Texas’s late July 2026 restrictions on many hemp-derived products removed a high-profit margin item from thousands of gas stations and vape shops. The next legal intoxicant on the same counter is already there: 7-OH tablets, drinks, and gummies. When one unregulated high is pulled, retailers push the next one.
This is the next chapter of the opioid crisis, not a wellness trend
- Wide availability of oxycodone taught America what happens when a potent opioid is marketed as safer than it is. People looking for pain relief became dependent on opioids without resources to prevent addiction.
- Illegally manufactured fentanyl taught America what happens when an opioid is cheap, concentrated, and easy to hide. Opioid use disorder increased and people died thinking they were taking a different drug.
- 7-OH is the version sold next to the energy drinks, an opioid roughly 13 times as potent as morphine and about nine times as potent as oxycodone, packaged for first-time users and kids who assume “if the gas station sells it, it can’t be that dangerous.”
Families deserve real care — not a substitute sold under the counter
- People with chronic pain, anxiety, or opioid use disorder are being steered toward unregulated kratom synthetics instead of evidence-based treatment and care.
- There is no FDA-approved 7-OH medication, and none of its synthetic analogs are approved either. It is a powerful opioid, and there is no known safe dose. For people living with opioid dependence or opioid use disorder, there are FDA-approved medications and established treatments prescribed by clinicians. We should be fighting for greater access to that care. An unregulated product bought at a smoke shop is not a safe way to obtain opioids outside mainstream medical care.
The ask
- Federal notices created the opening. Texas, like many states, still has to finish the job by passing a state law that covers kratom, concentrated 7-OH and its analogs, giving investigators a way to enforce a total ban.
- The moment is temporary. The products are not — unless states like Texas act.
The data
- 1,200% rise in kratom-related U.S. poison-control reports, 2015 to 2025 CDC
- 3,803 exposure reports involving kratom or kratom derivatives to U.S. poison centers in 2025 America’s Poison Centers
- 192 Texas exposure reports in 2025, up from 107 in 2024 Likely an undercount. 7-OH isn’t on standard toxicology panels. Texas Poison Center Network
- 79% of 233 reported deaths reviewed by the CDC involved more than one substance
- Kratom alone: 49
- More than one substance: 184
- Kratom-related U.S. poison-control reports rose 1,200% between 2015 and 2025 (CDC).
- In 2025, Poison Centers received 3,803 reports of exposure cases (opens in a new tab) involving kratom or kratom derivatives; as of June 30, 2026, Poison Centers have received 3,190 reports of kratom and kratom derivative exposures, on trend for a 67.8% increase from 2025 to 2026. Adults ages 20-39 make up nearly half of these exposures (48.4%), with men comprising 65.3% of exposures. Of patients reporting exposure to kratom or kratom derivatives alone, 44.5% had serious health problems, 68.9% received treatment, and 25.9% were hospitalized.
- Texas poison control calls involving kratom climbed from 107 in 2024 to 192 in 2025, and that’s likely an undercount, since kratom and synthetics like 7-OH aren’t included in standard toxicology panels. In Jonas’s Oklahoma case, the medical examiner had to request specific testing to identify 7-OH.
- Of 233 reported deaths involving kratom reviewed by CDC, 79% involved more than one substance.
- On July 16, 2026, a team member was handed 60 mg 7-OH tablets from under the counter at an Austin smoke shop, a product the state’s 2% cap is supposed to keep off the market.
What we’re asking for in Texas
Jonas’s Law schedules kratom and its derivatives, including concentrated 7-OH and lab-made analogs, as controlled substances in Texas, and gives enforcement the tools to get them off store shelves.
We are advocating for enforcement that prioritizes manufacturers, distributors, and retailers over individual users. The penalty structure, including how possession is treated, is still under negotiation with the Legislature.
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Classify kratom, 7-OH, and their analogs as controlled substances
- Creates a dedicated Penalty Group 1-C covering kratom, mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), synthetic kratom compounds, and structural analogs like MGPI, MGM-15, and MGM-16.
- Targets commercial manufacturers and dealers with felony penalties. Possession penalties scale with quantity.
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Give enforcement real tools
- Authorizes the Attorney General and Texas DSHS to seek injunctions, embargo products, and impose civil penalties on sellers, so enforcement no longer depends on suing one retailer at a time.
- Allows forfeiture of products and proceeds.
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Mandatory overdose and fatality reporting
- Integrates non-fatal kratom overdoses into Texas’s mandatory physician reporting pipeline and mapping system.
- Requires medical examiners to test for mitragynine, 7-OH and kratom analogs in suspected overdose investigations.
- Mandates that death certificates designate “Kratom Poisoning” or “Kratom Toxicity” when lethal levels are confirmed.
Contact your lawmakersRead the bill summary (opens in a new tab)
Frequently asked questions
What is 7-OH?
7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine) is an opioid-active compound found in trace amounts in the kratom plant. Products sold in gas stations and smoke shops concentrate it into tablets, gummies, and shots, at levels the Texas Attorney General has measured as high as 96% of total alkaloid content. It acts on the same brain receptors as morphine and fentanyl.
Is 7-OH the same as kratom?
Not exactly. Kratom is the plant; 7-OH is one of the compounds in it. Leaf contains only trace amounts, and the body converts some mitragynine into 7-OH after it’s swallowed. Concentrated products skip that step and deliver a large opioid dose all at once. Both are opioid-active, which is why Jonas’s Law addresses the whole family rather than a single compound.
Is 7-OH legal in Texas?
Texas law caps 7-OH at 2% of a kratom product’s alkaloid content, bans synthetic alkaloids, and restricts sales to adults. Products far above that cap are still sold. Federally, the DEA temporarily placed three related analogs (MGPI, MGM-15, and MGM-16) in Schedule I effective August 26, 2026. Concentrated 7-OH itself is still in the federal scheduling process.
How strong is 7-OH?
Lab studies put 7-OH at roughly 13 times the potency of morphine. A single 60 mg tablet is not a trace amount from a leaf; it is a large opioid dose in a candy-like form.
What are the signs of a 7-OH overdose?
Slow or stopped breathing, extreme sleepiness or unresponsiveness, pinpoint pupils, blue or gray lips or fingertips, and choking or gurgling sounds. The risk rises sharply when 7-OH is combined with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other opioids.
What should I do if someone may be overdosing?
Call 911. If you have naloxone (Narcan), give it; it can reverse the opioid effect. Stay with the person. If there’s no response after 2 to 3 minutes, give another dose, and keep watching them even after they wake up, because 7-OH can outlast naloxone and breathing can slow again. For a possible exposure that isn’t an emergency, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, 24/7.
Does 7-OH show up on a drug test?
Not on standard toxicology panels. It usually takes a specific request to test for it, which is one reason Texas numbers are likely an undercount, and why Jonas’s Law would require medical examiners to test for it in suspected overdoses.
Is 7-OH addictive?
Yes. Tolerance and physical dependence can develop quickly, and stopping can cause withdrawal that looks like opioid withdrawal. Talk to a doctor before stopping; dependence is treatable. The SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) offers free treatment referral, 24/7.
What is Jonas’s Law?
Proposed Texas legislation, named for Jonas, that would schedule kratom, 7-OH, and related analogs as controlled substances; give the Attorney General and DSHS civil enforcement tools against sellers; and require overdose reporting and medical examiner testing. The coalition is working toward the 2027 legislative session.
How can I help?
Contact your state lawmakers, share this page with families who haven’t heard of 7-OH, volunteer, or donate. See Take action.
What do kratom advocacy groups say?
They make six main arguments against a ban, from “it’s natural, so it’s safe” to “just enforce the rules we already have.” We answer each one in our response to kratom advocacy groups.
Take action
The moment is temporary. The products are not, unless states like Texas act.
- Contact your lawmakers
A short, pre-filled message about Jonas’s Law you can send to your representatives in minutes.
- Read the resources
Presentations, fact sheets, and the data behind the campaign.
- Share the truth
Get the word out to the families who haven’t heard of 7-OH yet.
- Volunteer
Scale our team, bring us to your community group, or host a speaking event.
- Share your story
Send us your family’s story. You decide what is shared.
- Donate
Every dollar funds the data, the testimony, and the campaign that gets concentrated 7-OH off Texas shelves for good.
- Contact us
Questions, media requests, or you just want to talk to a person. Email info@7ohtruthproject.org.
Who we are
The 7-OH Truth Project is a Texas-based nonprofit dedicated to preventing deaths and addiction from kratom, concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), and related analogs, through evidence-based education, support for affected families, scientific research, and advocacy for state laws that take these products off store shelves. We honor lives lost — including Jonas Heath — by empowering families, informing policymakers, and protecting young people from these dangerous “gas station” substances.
We’re a growing coalition of Texas families, public health experts, medical professionals, and community leaders who’ve lost loved ones or witnessed the damage unregulated 7-OH products cause. Founded by Rae Heath in memory of her son Jonas. The 7-OH Truth Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Questions? Email us at info@7ohtruthproject.org.
Sources
- Takayama H, et al. Opioid agonistic activities of mitragynine-related indole alkaloids. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2002. (7-OH ≈ 13× morphine)
- Kruegel AC, et al. Synthetic and receptor signaling explorations of the Mitragyna alkaloids. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2016. Columbia University. (independent confirmation that 7-OH activates the mu-opioid receptor)
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Takes Steps to Restrict 7-OH Opioid Products Threatening American Consumers, July 29, 2025; Hiding in Plain Sight: 7-OH Products (updated July 2026); and “7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH): An Assessment of the Scientific Data and Toxicological Concerns,” July 2025, fda.gov/media/187899/download (opens in a new tab).
- Drug Enforcement Administration. Notices of Intent to temporarily schedule 7-OH above a threshold (FR Doc. 2026-13580) and MGPI, MGM-15, and MGM-16 (FR Doc. 2026-13581). Federal Register, July 6, 2026.
- Drug Enforcement Administration. Temporary Placement of Mitragynine Pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16 in Schedule I, effective August 26, 2026 (FR Doc. 2026-17429).
- Office of the Texas Attorney General. Suit against Smokey’s Paradise, Midlothian (press release February 9, 2026) and against Pure Leaf Kratom and Outcast Distribution (press release April 21, 2026). Lab testing: 86% to 96% 7-OH of total alkaloid content.
- Texas Kratom Consumer Health and Safety Protection Act (2023). 2% cap on 7-OH by alkaloid content; synthetic alkaloids prohibited.
- Texas Poison Center Network, exposure data provided by DSHS, January 2024 to June 2026. (107 reports in 2024; 192 in 2025)
- America’s Poison Centers. Kratom and kratom-derivative exposure data: 3,803 cases in 2025; 3,190 through June 30, 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fentanyl facts (fentanyl ≈ 100× morphine).
- CDC. 1,200% rise in kratom-related poison-control reports, 2015 to 2025.
- CDC. Review of 233 reported kratom-involved deaths; 79% involved more than one substance.
- 7-OH Truth Project. Field purchase at an Austin smoke shop, July 16, 2026.
- Industry growth estimate (15% to 20% annually).
- ABC News. Tay Keith, Grammy-nominated record producer, died of drug overdose: Autopsy report. September 17, 2026. (Office of the Medical Examiner, Nashville, Tennessee.)
- Steamboat Pilot & Today. Synthetic kratom 7-OH led to two Yampa Valley deaths. September 2026; and City of Steamboat Springs, Police Warn About Dangers of 7-OH and Kratom Products, August 18, 2026.
- Milella MS, D’Ottavio G, De Pirro S, et al. “Heroin and its metabolites: relevance to heroin use disorder.” Translational Psychiatry. 2023;13:120. doi:10.1038/s41398-023-02406-5 (opens in a new tab).