DEA Moves to Temporarily Schedule Synthetic Opioid-Like Substances to Combat Emerging Threat

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced its intention to temporarily place 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and three related substances into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. This action, detailed in two Notices of Intent filed with the Federal Register on July 1, 2026, aims to address a growing public safety concern posed by highly concentrated, synthetic versions of these substances. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has confirmed that these specific compounds lack accepted medical use and carry a significant potential for abuse.

The temporary scheduling will subject the manufacture, distribution, sale, and possession of these targeted 7-OH substances to the criminal, civil, and administrative regulations outlined in the Controlled Substances Act. This move is intended to provide law enforcement and public health officials with the necessary tools to confront what the DEA describes as an emerging threat. The substances under consideration include 7-OH above a specified threshold, as well as related compounds identified as mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16.

These newly targeted substances are psychoactive compounds with opioid-like effects and associated risks. While 7-OH can be found in trace amounts in the botanical form of the Mitragyna speciosa plant, indigenous to Southeast Asia and traditionally used in communal or religious ceremonies, the DEA’s action specifically targets synthesized products and those with elevated concentrations. The agency’s laboratory findings indicate that commercially available products often contain higher levels of 7-OH than naturally occurring botanical kratom. This temporary scheduling action does not impact botanical kratom products that contain naturally occurring 7-OH below the specified threshold. The DEA believes these concentrated, synthetic substances pose an imminent threat due to their highly unpredictable effects.

The proliferation of commercial products containing semi-synthetic 7-OH has been observed across the United States. These products are frequently marketed online and available for purchase in retail locations such as gas stations, convenience stores, and smoke shops in various forms, including powders, tablets, capsules, gummies, and dissolvable strips. This action is part of a broader strategy to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic and protect American families from dangerous synthetic drugs.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration

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