Kratom is a plant-based substance made from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia. It is commonly sold as powders, capsules, teas, extracts, tablets, gummies, and drink shots. Many people are introduced to kratom because it is easy to buy and often marketed as “natural.” However, natural does not always mean safe.
People may use kratom for different reasons, including pain, energy, mood, anxiety, or to manage symptoms when trying to stop other substances. Over time, regular use can become difficult to control. Some people begin needing more, using it more often, or feeling unable to get through the day without it, thus creating the beginning steps of kratom addiction.
A major change in the kratom market is the rise of products containing 7-hydroxymitragynine, often called by its drug name, ‘7-OH’. Many newer products being sold or marketed as “kratom” are not the same as traditional whole-leaf kratom. Some contain concentrated 7-OH, added 7-OH, or other high-potency kratom-derived compounds that may have stronger opioid-like effects.
This distinction matters. A person may believe they are using a natural kratom product when they may actually be using something much stronger, more opioid-like, and more difficult to stop.
At Long Island Center for Recovery, our healthcare team is experienced in treating kratom and 7-OH addiction and providing treatment to individuals experiencing subsequent withdrawal. We understand that the symptoms of kratom and 7-OH withdrawal can be very real, even when the products are marketed as natural, legal, or easy to access.
Kratom contains active compounds called alkaloids that can affect several systems in the brain and body, including opioid receptors. This is why the effects can vary so much depending on the product, the amount used, and how concentrated the product is.
The major concern today is that the kratom market has changed. Traditional whole-leaf kratom naturally contains only small amounts of 7-OH. However, many newer products being sold as “kratom” are no longer simple leaf products. They often contain concentrated 7-OH, added 7-OH, or other high-potency kratom-derived compounds in the form of 7-OH tablets. In some cases, the product a person is buying may be much stronger and more opioid-like than what they think they are taking.
7-OH interacts with the mu-opioid receptor, the same receptor system involved in opioid dependence, withdrawal, respiratory depression, and overdose risk. That is what makes the current kratom and 7-OH tablet market so concerning. Products with opioid-like activity are being purchased legally in gas stations, smoke shops, convenience stores, and online, often in bright packaging as tablets, gummies, candy, extracts, or drink shots. Some may look like ordinary wellness products, but the clinical reality can be much more serious.
This is why people using kratom and 7-OH products may present with opioid-like dependence, withdrawal, cravings, and overdose risk even though they believed they were using something legal, natural, or mild. The issue is not just kratom itself anymore. It is the unpredictable and increasingly concentrated product supply.
One of the most important changes in the kratom market is the rise of 7-OH tablets and other products. Many people still use the word “kratom,” but not all products being sold as kratom are the same. Traditional whole-leaf kratom powder is different from newer tablets, gummies, shots, extracts, and other products that may contain concentrated or added 7-OH.
Whole-leaf kratom naturally contains only small amounts of 7-OH. Newer products may contain much higher concentrations of 7-OH or other kratom-derived compounds. These products can have stronger opioid-like effects and may be more likely to cause dependence, withdrawal, and difficulty stopping.
Clinically, this has become an important concern. This is a newer and emerging issue in substance use treatment. We are seeing individuals who are highly dependent on kratom and 7-OH products, especially those using concentrated 7-OH tablets, gummies, or shots throughout the day. Some people wake up in withdrawal, need repeated dosing to function, or feel unable to stop despite serious consequences. For these individuals, kratom and 7-OH treatment may need to address an opioid-like pattern of dependence and withdrawal, including detox during their rehabilitation.
One of the biggest concerns with kratom and 7-OH is that many people underestimate them. These products are often sold openly and marketed as natural or plant-based, but kratom and 7-OH can still lead to dependence, withdrawal, overdose risk, and serious health complications.
Products like kratom and 7-OH with opioid-like activity are being legally purchased in everyday retail settings, while many people have no idea they may be using something that can create real physical dependence and real withdrawal.
Kratom can cause physical and mental effects such as nausea, constipation, dizziness, sedation, confusion, and changes in mood. More serious concerns have also been reported, including liver problems, seizures, psychiatric symptoms, and complications when kratom is used with other substances.
Product quality is another major issue. Kratom and 7-OH products are not consistently regulated. Strength, labeling, “serving size”, and actual contents may vary. Some products may contain concentrated or enhanced 7-OH, even when they are marketed as kratom. In some ways, 7-OH has created a fentanyl-like concern within the kratom market: people may believe they are using one product but may actually be exposed to something much stronger, more opioid-like, and more dangerous than expected.
According to a CDC analysis of poison center data, kratom-related exposure reports increased by approximately 1,200% from 2015 to 2025, rising from 258 reports to 3,434 reports. The CDC also noted that the shift from traditional kratom leaf products to high-potency alkaloid extracts has raised safety concerns. This sharp increase shows why kratom and 7-OH products should not be dismissed as harmless or treated like ordinary supplements.
Kratom and 7-OH withdrawal can be very real. Symptoms may include anxiety, irritability, restlessness, sweating, sleep problems, body aches, stomach upset, diarrhea, fatigue, cravings, and low mood.
For some people, kratom and 7-OH withdrawal feels similar to a flu-like illness mixed with anxiety and insomnia. Others may feel emotionally unsettled, uncomfortable in their own skin, or unable to relax. People using 7-OH or high-potency extracts may have more intense opioid-like withdrawal symptoms, especially if they are using frequently or in higher amounts.
At Long Island Center for Recovery, kratom and 7-OH withdrawal is not treated as a generic supplement issue. Our team understands that the kratom market has changed, and that many patients who say they are using “kratom” may actually be using high-potency 7-OH products, extracts, tablets, gummies, or drink shots. That distinction matters clinically.
Kratom and 7-OH treatment begins with a detailed assessment of the exact product being used, the amount, frequency, duration of use, withdrawal pattern, co-occurring substance use, medical history, psychiatric symptoms, and overall safety needs. We look at the full clinical picture because traditional whole-leaf kratom and concentrated 7-OH products can present very differently.
LICR’s healthcare team is experienced in treating kratom and 7-OH withdrawal, including cases that present with a more opioid-like pattern of dependence. Care is individualized and may include medical and nursing monitoring, prescription and non-prescription adjunctive medications, hydration, nutrition, sleep support, counseling, holistic therapies, and structured daily programming.
For patients with significant 7-OH use, frequent dosing, severe cravings, or opioid-like withdrawal symptoms, buprenorphine may be considered when clinically appropriate. Therapy selections are based on assessment, diagnosis, withdrawal severity, substance use history, patient safety, and provider judgment. When indicated, buprenorphine can be a well-tolerated option that supports stabilization and helps patients engage in treatment.
Our treatment model combines addiction medicine, nursing care, clinical counseling, relapse-prevention planning, holistic support, and a 12-step based recovery environment. Patients are guided by a team that understands both the medical complexity of withdrawal and the recovery work that has to follow.
Recovery from kratom or 7-OH dependence is not just about getting through a few uncomfortable days. It is about stabilizing the person, helping them understand the cycle they have been stuck in, and giving them the structure and support to begin moving forward one day at a time.
Early kratom and 7-OH recovery can take time. Sleep, mood, energy, appetite, and cravings may change from day to day. Some people feel better quickly, while others need more time to feel steady. This is especially true for individuals who have been using kratom or 7-OH daily, using high-potency products, or using multiple substances.
Recovery is not something a person has to figure out alone. Structure matters. Support matters. So does honesty, accountability, and connection with others who understand the process.
At LICR, individuals are guided through the early stages of recovery by people who understand substance use disorder and believe no one gets better alone. One day at a time, people can begin to stabilize, reconnect, and move forward in recovery.
Why are kratom and 7-OH being discussed together?
Many people still use the word “kratom,” but the products being sold today are not all the same. Traditional whole-leaf kratom is different from concentrated extracts, 7-OH tablets, gummies, drink shots, and other high-potency products. This distinction matters because the product type can change the clinical picture, including the severity of dependence, withdrawal, cravings, and treatment needs.
Why does it matter exactly which product someone is using?
At LICR, we want to know the exact product, not just the word “kratom.” A person using traditional powder once or twice per day may present very differently than someone using concentrated 7-OH products throughout the day. Product type, dose, frequency, duration of use, co-use with other substances, and withdrawal timing all help guide safe and appropriate care.
Why can 7-OH withdrawal feel more like opioid withdrawal?
7-OH acts on mu-opioid receptors, which are involved in pain relief, reward, dependence, and withdrawal. Because many 7-OH products are concentrated or enhanced, some people experience a more opioid-like pattern of dependence. This may include waking up sick, needing repeated doses to function, feeling unable to cut back, or experiencing significant discomfort when they try to stop.
Can someone be treated for kratom or 7-OH withdrawal even if they do not use heroin, fentanyl, or prescription opioids?
Yes. A person does not need to be using heroin, fentanyl, or prescription opioids to need help with kratom or 7-OH withdrawal. Treatment is based on the person’s symptoms, clinical presentation, safety needs, and pattern of use. If the withdrawal looks opioid-like, it should be assessed and treated seriously.
How does LICR treat kratom and 7-OH withdrawal?
At LICR, we understand that many people who say they are using “kratom” may actually be using products that contain concentrated or enhanced 7-OH.
Treatment begins with identifying what the person has been using, how often they are using it, and what symptoms they are experiencing. From there, care is individualized and may include medical and nursing monitoring, tailored clinical therapies, comfort medications, counseling, group support, holistic approaches, and relapse-prevention planning.
For some patients with significant opioid-like withdrawal, buprenorphine may be considered when clinically appropriate. Our goal is to help the person stabilize safely, understand the cycle they have been caught in, and begin recovery with structure and support.
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