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SF reports first death tied to 'cat's claw' opioid sold at smoke shops
SFGATE • • health
Key Points:
- San Francisco reported its first death linked to MGM-15, a potent synthetic opioid sold at gas stations and smoke shops, with the overdose occurring in late September.
- MGM-15, related to 7-hydroxymitragynine found in kratom, is not approved for medical use and can be fatal in high doses; it was detected in a product labeled "Script Botanicals x Maui Labs."
- The product involved is still available for sale online despite federal and state bans on substances containing 7-OH and MGM-15, and similar overdoses have been reported in other states like Utah and Washington.
- San Francisco police seized illegal substances including kratom and 7-OH from multiple smoke shops, noting that these products often have misleading labels and are marketed as herbal supplements.
- The rise in kratom-related products has led to increased overdoses and concerns about an opioid epidemic, with previous cases involving teens and young adults, and the emergence of other synthetic opioids like cychlorphine.
