Global Kratom Coalition Urges Caution After Walker County Students Fall Ill from Concentrated Synthetic 7-OH Products, Not Natural Kratom
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Audio By Carbonatix
11:17 PM on Friday, October 31
The Associated Press
Incident highlights dangers of illegal concentrated synthetic 7-OH opioid products misrepresented as natural kratom; Georgia law already bans such products
ATLANTA, GA, October 31, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- The Global Kratom Coalition (GKC) today issued a statement following reports that five students from Saddle Ridge Elementary and Middle School in Walker County, Georgia, were hospitalized after ingesting gummies described as containing “kratom.”
GKC officials warn that the products involved were almost certainly concentrated synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), not natural kratom leaf, and that such products are already illegal under Georgia law.
“This tragic situation underscores exactly why Georgia’s existing kratom-related regulations are so important,” said Matthew Lowe, Executive Director of the Global Kratom Coalition. “Natural kratom leaf products are used responsibly by millions of adults, but concentrated synthetic 7-OH opioid products are chemically altered opioids, which are 13 times stronger than morphine, and carry an extremely high risk profile. These products should never have been accessible to anyone, especially children.”
Georgia’s Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) specifically bans synthetic or concentrated derivative products like these concentrated synthetic 7-OH products, allowing only natural kratom leaf products to be sold to adults 21 and over in properly labeled packaging and placed behind-the-counter in retail stores. However, illicit concentrated synthetic 7-OH products continue to circulate nationally, often disguised as candies, gummies, or imitation ice cream cones.
In August 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its intent to schedule concentrated synthetic 7-OH as a controlled substance, citing its opioid potency and potential for fatal misuse. Soon after, Florida enacted a statewide ban on concentrated synthetic 7-OH products.
“Georgia acted wisely and early by banning concentrated synthetic 7-OH opioid products,” Lowe said. “The problem is not the natural kratom leaf. The problem is the proliferation of illegal, concentrated synthetic 7-OH opioid products masquerading as natural kratom. We urge regulators and retailers to help ensure these products are fully removed from the marketplace.”
The Global Kratom Coalition is working with national and state authorities to ensure continued enforcement against synthetics while preserving access to natural kratom leaf products for responsible adult consumers.
The Global Kratom Coalition is an alliance of kratom consumers, experts, and industry leaders dedicated to protecting access to natural leaf kratom while advancing scientific research, driving consumer education, and developing robust regulations to protect consumers. For more information, visit globalkratomcoalition.org.Media Contact
Matthew Lowe
Global Kratom Coalition
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SOURCE: Global Kratom Coalition (GKC)
