Gov. Beshear moves to block access to a form of kratom

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Governor Andy Beshear announced that his administration is taking action to prevent the sale and distribution of a dangerous substance in Kentucky by moving to classify 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) as a Schedule I narcotic.

Officials say this will make it illegal to sell, possess or distribute any isolated or concentrated forms of 7-OH in the state. 7-OH is a concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant, which is increasingly recognized as having the potential for abuse because of its ability to bind to opioid receptors.

“When kratom is altered to create synthetic opioids, it becomes a threat to the public’s health,” said Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Dr. Steven Stack. “It puts people at risk and undermines the strides Kentucky has made in reducing the scourge of addiction.”

Gov. Andy Beshear says while 7-OH is a chemical compound that occurs naturally in the kratom plant, this occurs only in very small amounts. Products such as shots, powders or capsules can be sold over the counter, containing concentrated, potentially dangerous amounts of the substance, which can also be potentially addictive.

Officials say the Cabinet for Health and Family Services is in the process of updating regulations to classify isolated and concentrated forms of 7-OH as Schedule I substances – the same category as heroin, LSD and fentanyl analogs. Once final, this action will allow law enforcement and regulatory agencies to immediately begin removing these unsafe products from retail shelves statewide.

Officials say the announcement follows the Governor’s emergency designation of bromazolam as a Schedule I controlled substance in August, which banned the drug from being sold in Kentucky and providing law enforcement the ability to make arrests for sales or possession.

Treatment Resources

Officials say if anyone is struggling with addiction, people can dial1-8338-KYHELP (1-833-859-4357). Information about treatment programs all across the commonwealth is available here. Information on how to obtain naloxone, which is used to reverse an opioid overdose, can be found here and here.

According to officials, people can visit this website to find one of the Kentucky State Police’s 16 posts where those suffering from addiction can be paired with a local officer who will assist with locating an appropriate treatment program. Officials say the Angel Initiative is completely voluntary, and individuals will not be arrested or charged with any violations if they agree to participate in treatment.