Is Kratom an Opioid? What the FDA’s 7-OH Action Means

Kratom leaves or Mitragyna Speciosa. Fresh green kratom leaves stacked on moist banana leaves

By Clare Waismann, M-RAS, SUDCC II, Founder, Waismann Method®. Drawing on nearly three decades of clinical observation in opioid dependence. Last updated: 04/28/2026

The short answer: yes. Kratom acts on the same brain receptors as opioids, and most clinicians now treat it as an atypical opioid. Its two main alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, are partial agonists at the mu-opioid receptor, the same site morphine and heroin bind to. In July 2025, the FDA formally asked the DEA to schedule concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products as Schedule I, putting them in the same federal category as heroin.

That recommendation changed the conversation. Federal regulators no longer treat kratom as one thing. They’ve split it into two categories: the natural leaf, used for centuries in Southeast Asia and now sold here as powders, capsules, and teas, and the concentrated 7-OH products that started showing up in gas stations and smoke shops over the past few years. The two are not the same, and the law is starting to treat them differently.

If you are trying to read a label, sort out your state’s rules, or figure out what is happening to a family member who can’t seem to stop using kratom, that split is the place to start.

This article covers what kratom is, how its chemistry compares to traditional opioids, where federal and state law stand in 2026, and observations gathered over decades of working in opioid dependence.

FDA Update: The July 2025 Action on 7-OH

On July 29, 2025, the FDA formally recommended that the DEA place certain 7-hydroxymitragynine products on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. It was the toughest federal move on a kratom compound in close to a decade. The agency released a public report explaining its concerns about 7-OH’s opioid-like effects and abuse potential.

Three points are worth getting straight.

1. The target is concentrated 7-OH, not the leaf itself. 7-OH occurs naturally in kratom leaves at under 2% of total alkaloid content. What regulators are actually going after are concentrated or semi-synthetic versions of it: tablets, gummies, vape liquids, and drink shots that often hit potencies at or above morphine. Federal officials and several senators have started calling these products “gas station heroin.”

2. The leaf isn’t scheduled yet, but pressure is building. As of early 2026, the DEA hasn’t finalized rulemaking on the FDA’s recommendation, so natural kratom is still legal at the federal level. In March 2026, however, a bipartisan group of senators sent a letter to the FDA Commissioner asking the agency to schedule both 7-OH and the whole kratom leaf. The political momentum hasn’t slowed.

3. State action is moving faster than federal action. Florida passed emergency rules in 2025 that ban concentrated 7-OH and require kratom products to disclose how much 7-OH they contain. The FDA also issued warning letters to companies selling 7-OH as a dietary supplement, which the agency considers illegal. Other states are working on similar rules.

So if you are asking “is kratom an opioid?” in 2026, the answer comes in two parts. Leaf kratom hits opioid receptors and produces opioid-like effects, but it is not a federally controlled substance. Concentrated 7-OH is being treated by the FDA as exactly what the question implies: an opioid, and one the agency wants on the same schedule as heroin.

What Kratom Is

Kratom comes from Mitragyna speciosa, a tropical tree native to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. The leaves have been used for centuries in those regions, both as a stimulant for laborers facing long days and as a sedative or pain reliever at higher doses. That dose-dependent split, energizing at low amounts and sedating at high ones, is part of what makes the plant unusual.

Kratom started gaining traction in the United States about fifteen years ago. It was sold loosely as an herbal supplement, often with vague claims about energy, focus, mood, or pain relief. By the mid-2010s, the DEA briefly attempted to schedule it but withdrew the proposal after pushback. Since then, the U.S. market has expanded into capsules, powders, teas, extracts, and the concentrated 7-OH products now drawing federal attention.

The Active Compounds

Two alkaloids do most of the work: mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Both bind to the mu-opioid receptor as partial agonists, meaning they activate the receptor but not as completely as a full agonist like morphine. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, this partial activation is what produces kratom’s pain-relieving and mood-altering effects.

The chemistry is what makes the “is it an opioid?” question complicated. Botanically, kratom has nothing to do with the opium poppy. Its alkaloids do not derive from morphine. But functionally, in terms of where they act in the brain and what effects they produce, the overlap is significant. That functional overlap is the basis for the FDA’s 2025 action on 7-OH.

Kratom vs. Traditional Opioids

What Defines an Opioid

Opioids are drugs that bind to opioid receptors in the brain and body. The classic ones come from the opium poppy, including morphine and codeine. Semi-synthetic opioids, like heroin, oxycodone, and hydrocodone, are derived from those natural compounds. Fully synthetic opioids, like fentanyl and methadone, are built from scratch but designed to act on the same receptors. All of them produce some combination of pain relief, euphoria, sedation, and respiratory depression. All of them carry risk of dependence and overdose.

Where Kratom Fits

Kratom’s alkaloids bind to the same receptors but with important differences. As partial agonists, they appear to produce less respiratory depression than full opioid agonists at typical doses. The euphoria is generally milder. The withdrawal syndrome, while real, is often described as somewhere between a stimulant crash and a mild-to-moderate opioid withdrawal.

That said, “milder than heroin” is not the same as “safe.” A 2022 case report published in the National Library of Medicine documented severe kratom dependence contributing to a suicide attempt. Daily, long-term kratom use produces tolerance, physical dependence, and withdrawal symptoms that look familiar to anyone who has worked with opioid patients: anxiety, insomnia, restless legs, GI distress, sweating, and intense cravings.

The 7-OH situation is different again. Concentrated 7-OH products contain levels of the compound that you would never reach by drinking kratom tea. At those concentrations, 7-OH behaves more like a traditional opioid, including the risk profile that goes with it. That is why the FDA moved on 7-OH specifically, not on leaf kratom.

How Kratom Affects the Body

The physiological and neurological effects of opioid receptor activation reach far beyond pain perception. Kratom’s interaction with these receptors influences the central nervous system, the gastrointestinal system, hormone regulation, mood, and sleep. Many of the side effects users report, constipation, sexual dysfunction, irregular sleep, sweating, mood swings, mirror what you see with prescription opioid use over time.

At low doses, kratom tends to act as a stimulant. Users describe alertness, sociability, and mild euphoria. At higher doses, the sedative effects dominate. This biphasic pattern is why some people describe kratom as “energizing” while others describe it as “calming.” The dose, the strain, and the individual all matter.

Long-term, regular use changes things. Tolerance builds. The energizing effects fade. Many long-term users describe taking kratom not to feel good but to feel normal, which is the textbook signature of physical dependence on any substance that acts on the opioid system.

Kratom and Pain

Kratom’s pain-relieving effects are real for many users. That is part of the reason it spread so quickly in the United States, particularly during the 2010s as prescription opioid access tightened. People dealing with chronic pain who lost access to their prescriptions found kratom available, legal, and effective enough to manage their symptoms.

The trade-off is that kratom is not regulated the way prescription medications are. Strain potency varies. Alkaloid content varies. Contamination has been documented. And dependence develops with regular use, just as it does with prescription opioids, though usually more slowly.

If you are using kratom for pain management, that is a conversation worth having with a qualified healthcare provider rather than navigating alone. There are non-opioid pain management options that have advanced significantly in the last decade.

Kratom and Opioid Withdrawal

This is one of the more complicated parts of the kratom story. People do use kratom to self-manage opioid withdrawal, and Mayo Clinic has acknowledged that some individuals report relief from withdrawal symptoms with kratom use. The mechanism makes sense: a partial mu-opioid agonist would reduce the receptor-level distress of opioid withdrawal.

The problem is that this often substitutes one dependence for another. People who use kratom to get off heroin or oxycodone frequently end up dependent on kratom instead, and kratom dependence has its own withdrawal syndrome to navigate eventually. There is no formal medical protocol for kratom-assisted opioid withdrawal, and the products available at gas stations and online vendors are not standardized.

For anyone in active opioid withdrawal, the safer path is medical supervision with FDA-approved medications and clinicians who can monitor the process.

The Safety and Addiction Picture

Kratom’s safety profile is best described as “incompletely understood.” Reports to poison control centers have risen along with U.S. usage. Kratom-related deaths exist, though most involve other substances taken alongside it. Tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal are well documented. Adulterated products, including kratom mixed with more dangerous substances, have been found in the U.S. supply.

Compared to traditional opioids, the addiction risk for leaf kratom appears lower. The respiratory depression risk also appears lower. But “lower” is not “absent,” and the lack of regulatory oversight means consumers are largely on their own when it comes to product quality.

Concentrated 7-OH products are a separate category. Their potency, route of administration, and packaging, gummies and drinks that look like consumer products, raise the abuse and overdose risk substantially. That is why federal action targeted them specifically.

Legal Status: Where Kratom Stands in 2026

Federal

Natural kratom leaf is not a federally controlled substance as of 2026. The DEA has not finalized rulemaking on the FDA’s July 2025 recommendation, so concentrated 7-OH products are also not yet on Schedule I federally. That said, the FDA has issued enforcement actions against companies marketing 7-OH as a dietary supplement, treating those products as unapproved drugs.

Federal momentum is unmistakably moving toward more restriction. The FDA recommendation, the bipartisan Senate letter in March 2026, and the warning letters together signal that further action is likely.

State Bans

As of early 2026, kratom is banned in:

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Indiana
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
  • Wisconsin

Several states and cities have additional restrictions or pending legislation. Florida passed emergency rules in 2025 specifically targeting concentrated 7-OH while leaving leaf kratom legal. Other states are considering similar split approaches.

Kratom remains legal in most of California, although San Diego has banned it. Florida, outside Sarasota County, permits leaf kratom but regulates 7-OH content.

This is a fast-moving area. Always verify current state and local law before purchasing or possessing any kratom product. Laws have been changing on a quarterly basis since the FDA’s 2025 announcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is kratom an opiate antagonist?

No. An opiate antagonist blocks the opioid receptor without activating it. Naloxone and naltrexone are antagonists. Kratom’s alkaloids are partial agonists. They activate the receptor, just not as fully as morphine or heroin.

Is kratom an opiate blocker?

No. Kratom does not block opioid receptors. It binds to them and produces opioid-like effects. People sometimes confuse this with antagonist medications used in addiction treatment.

Is kratom federally legal?

Natural kratom leaf is not a federally controlled substance, so as of 2026 it is still legal at the federal level. The catch is 7-OH. In July 2025, the FDA recommended that the DEA schedule concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine products as Schedule I, the same category as heroin. The DEA hasn’t finalized that rule yet, but the FDA has sent warning letters to companies selling 7-OH gummies, tablets, and drink shots. A bipartisan group of senators is also pushing to schedule the whole leaf. Several states aren’t waiting on federal regulators. Check your state and local laws before buying or using any kratom product.

What is “gas station heroin”?

“Gas station heroin” is what people are starting to call concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products: tablets, gummies, vape liquids, and drink shots sold at gas stations, smoke shops, and convenience stores. The name fits because they are easy to buy and they hit hard. 7-OH binds strongly to the mu-opioid receptor, and in concentrated form it can be more potent than morphine. The FDA recommended Schedule I status for these products in July 2025.

Is 7-OH the same as kratom?

No. 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) is one of the active alkaloids that occurs naturally in kratom leaves, but it makes up less than 2% of the leaf’s total alkaloid content. The 7-OH products getting federal attention are concentrated or semi-synthetic versions with far more of the compound than you’d ever find in nature. The FDA’s 2025 recommendation targets those concentrated products, not the leaf.

How long does a kratom high last?

Effects typically last 2 to 5 hours, depending on dose, strain, individual metabolism, and whether kratom was taken on an empty stomach. Stimulant effects come on faster and fade sooner. Sedative effects from higher doses tend to last longer.

How long does kratom stay in your system?

Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine can be detected for somewhere between 1 and 9 days, depending on the test, frequency of use, body composition, and metabolism. Heavy daily users will test positive longer than occasional users.

Does kratom show up on drug tests?

Standard 5-panel and 10-panel workplace drug tests do not detect kratom. Specialized toxicology panels can detect it, and these are sometimes ordered when opioid-like effects are suspected but standard panels come back negative.

Is kratom a psychedelic?

No. Kratom does not produce hallucinations or significant perceptual distortion. Its primary effects are opioid-like and stimulant-like, not psychedelic.

Does kratom increase dopamine?

Indirectly, yes. Mu-opioid receptor activation increases dopamine release in reward pathways, which is part of what produces the mood elevation. It is also part of what drives dependence, since long-term use disrupts normal dopamine regulation.

Is kratom safe during breastfeeding?

No. Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine pass into breast milk and have been associated with sedation and withdrawal symptoms in nursing infants. The FDA and pediatric organizations advise against kratom use during breastfeeding.

Is kratom the same as morphine?

No, but it acts on the same receptors. Kratom’s primary alkaloids are partial agonists at the mu-opioid receptor, the same site morphine binds to. The botanical source, full pharmacology, and legal classification all differ from morphine.

What We Observed Over Nearly Three Decades in Opioid Dependence

The Waismann Method® treated patients with opioid dependence for nearly thirty years before transitioning to an educational role. Across that history, kratom went from a substance almost no one had heard of to one of the more frequent presenting substances among patients seeking help with dependence. A few patterns stood out consistently.

Kratom dependence developed quietly. Patients often did not recognize they were dependent until they tried to stop. The legal, herbal, and over-the-counter framing led many to assume it could not produce real dependence. The withdrawal experience usually changed that assumption quickly.

Co-use was common. Many patients arrived using kratom alongside other substances: prescription opioids, alcohol, benzodiazepines, or stimulants. The pattern of kratom layered onto a broader substance use picture was more common than kratom in isolation.

Withdrawal was real and often underestimated. Anxiety, GI distress, insomnia, restless legs, sweating, irritability, and intense cravings were standard. The intensity varied with daily dose and duration of use. Heavy daily users who had been using for years often had withdrawal that looked closer to traditional opioid withdrawal than to anything mild.

Families were frequently caught off guard. Because kratom was sold openly and marketed as natural, families often did not understand what their loved one was struggling with. The “it’s just a tea” framing made it harder for them to recognize the seriousness of dependence until it was advanced.

The 7-OH wave changed the patient profile. In the last few years before transitioning, the team began seeing patients whose primary substance was concentrated 7-OH rather than leaf kratom. The dependence developed faster and the withdrawal was more severe. The FDA’s 2025 action lined up with what was already visible in clinical settings.

These observations do not replace formal research. They are simply patterns from years of working with patients in this space.

What This Means in 2026

The question “is kratom an opioid?” used to be a debate. After the FDA’s 2025 action, it is more accurate to say the answer depends on what you are actually talking about. Leaf kratom acts on opioid receptors and produces opioid-like effects, but federal law does not yet classify it as a controlled substance. Concentrated 7-OH is being treated by federal regulators as an opioid in everything but final paperwork, and that paperwork may not be far behind.

For anyone weighing kratom for personal use, the considerations are: whether the product is leaf or 7-OH, what state you are in, what your other medications and conditions are, and whether you have a personal or family history of substance use disorder. None of those questions have one-size-fits-all answers.

For anyone watching a family member struggle with kratom, the right next step is usually a conversation with a qualified medical professional who can assess the situation. Your primary care physician, an addiction medicine specialist, or your local health department can point you to current treatment options in your area.

This article is provided for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for evaluation by a qualified healthcare provider.

Sources

 

This article was written by Clare Waismann, M-RAS, SUDCC II, Founder of Waismann Method®, drawing on nearly three decades of clinical observation in opioid dependence. It is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. Information in this field changes quickly, particularly around regulation and legal status, and content may become outdated. For questions about your own situation or that of a loved one, consult a qualified healthcare provider. Waismann Method® no longer offers clinical treatment and operates this website solely as an educational resource. The author and Waismann Method® are not liable for any errors, omissions, or consequences resulting from the use of the information provided.