Kratom Unmasked Slides
Drug Trends
Kratom
Mitragyna speciosa
Two Core Alkaloids:
- • Mitragynine
- • 7-Hydroxymitragynine
DEA Resource Guide Reference
WHAT IS KRATOM?
Botanical Drug
Botanical Origin: A tropical tree native to Southeast Asia (known scientifically as Mitragyna speciosa).
Active Compounds: Leaves contain psychoactive alkaloids—primarily mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).
How It Is Taken: Leaves are crushed and brewed into tea, placed into gel capsules, or smoked.
Traditional Names: Long history in Southeast Asia, known as thang, kakuam, thom, ketum, and biak.
In the U.S., the use of kratom has increased markedly in recent years. DEA 2024 Edition
How Is It Used?
Forms & Distribution
Common Forms of Ingestion
- • Oral Ingestion: Tablets, gel capsules, or liquid extracts.
- • Powder & Tea: Dried leaves brewed into hot beverages.
- • Chewed Leaf: Traditional practice of chewing raw plant matter.
Retail Marketing Claims
- • Sold as convenience store "energy shots" similar to 5-Hour Energy.
- • Advertised as providing "cognitive boosts" before workouts.
- • Other brands market specific strains for "relaxation."
Standard workplace drug screens do not test for kratom, masking widespread abuse. Specialized Tests Needed
The Biphasic Effect
Dose-Dependent
Kratom changes its biological effect depending on the amount consumed:
Low Doses = Stimulant
- • Increased alertness and physical energy
- • Heightened talkativeness
- • Rapid heart rate and restlessness
Often mistaken for safe caffeine
High Doses = Opioid Sedative
- • Drowsiness and sluggish reflexes
- • Pain blunting and psychological stupor
- • Dangerous respiratory depression
Can trigger psychotic symptoms & addiction
Unpredictable dosing makes accidental overdose and dependency common.
What is 7-OH?
Concentrated Hazard
The Chemical
Short for 7-hydroxymitragynine, a highly potent psychoactive alkaloid that targets opioid receptors.
Aggressive receptor binding
Street Slang
Marketed in stores as "7-Hydro", or falsely promoted online as "legal morphine."
Predatory marketing
Delivery Forms
Sold in chewable tablets, ultra-concentrated liquid shots, and now in flavored vape cartridges.
Appealing to teens
7-OH is NOT benign herbal tea; it is an industrial-strength opioid receptor agonist.
The Potency Spike
Lab Analysis
American Kratom Association chemical warnings:
Natural Raw Leaves
< 2%
7-OH represents less than 2% of total natural plant alkaloids.
Engineered 7-OH Pills
> 40%
Pills tested in Texas and Colorado contained over 40% concentrated 7-OH.
Over 20 times the natural alkaloid concentration in a single dose! Extreme Risk
Severe Dependence & Withdrawal
Addiction Reality
Rapid Chemical Tolerance
The brain's opioid receptors rapidly desensitize. Users require progressively higher quantities just to avoid becoming severely sick.
Agonizing Withdrawal
- • Painful muscle tremors & joint aches
- • Severe stomach cramps & vomiting
- • Debilitating panic and insomnia
- • Profuse sweating and chills
Users describe 7-OH withdrawals rivaling illicit opioids like heroin and fentanyl.
Clinical Recovery Data
Deceptive Retail Marketing
Consumer Traps
Countertop Placement
Positioned next to energy drinks, snacks, and caffeine pills to create a false impression of safety.
"All-Natural Herbal"
Masked as organic wellness, study aids, or pre-workout elixirs while hiding active opioid agonists.
Vape Formats
Flavored vape liquids and colorful packaging designed specifically to appeal to younger consumers.
The word "Natural" on retail packaging is an unregulated marketing claim, not a safety guarantee.
Zero FDA Approval
Regulatory Alert
Not Approved for Any Purpose
The FDA has never approved kratom or 7-OH for any medical use or dietary supplement.
In 2022, the FDA officially classified kratom as a "substance of concern."
The Unregulated Reality
- • Zero mandatory safety testing
- • Inaccurate active-ingredient numbers
- • Frequent presence of unlisted contaminants
Just because an item is sold over the counter does NOT mean it is pure, tested, or safe.
Physical Toll on the Body
Acute Symptoms
Documented adverse physical effects on the human body:
Tachycardia
Rapid, irregular heart rate
Nausea & Vomiting
Severe appetite loss
Sweats & Itching
Uncontrolled skin itching
Drowsiness
Severe mental confusion
Adverse symptoms intensify dramatically as dosage increases.
Severe Organ Damage
Critical Pathology
Hepatotoxicity
Toxic Liver Disease
High concentrations overload liver pathways, leading to jaundice and acute organ toxicity.
Brain Hypoxia
Oxygen Deprivation
Slowed, shallow breathing deprives brain cells of oxygen, risking permanent neurological damage.
Seizures
Neurological Spikes
Multiple hospital cases have linked concentrated kratom and 7-OH products to violent seizures.
FDA "Black Liquid" Warning: Concentrated liquid kratom formulas caused multiple hospitalizations and deaths.
Polysubstance Lethality
Deadly Multipliers
Synergy with Alcohol & Sedatives
Combining kratom or 7-OH with depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines drastically accelerates central nervous system depression.
Breathing can halt completely
Hidden Contamination
Unregulated street and corner-store pills have repeatedly tested positive for synthetic opioids, including illicit fentanyl.
Impossible to verify by sight alone
Nearly all kratom-associated overdose deaths involve polysubstance combinations.
Spotting an Overdose
Medical Emergency
Unresponsive
Cannot be awakened by loud shouting or shaking; completely limp body.
Breathing Failure
Breathing is extremely slow, shallow, or stopped; choking or gurgling sounds.
Discoloration & Pupils
Lips or fingernails turn blue/purple; pale clammy skin; pinpoint pupils.
NEVER assume someone is just "sleeping it off." Asphyxiation Hazard
Emergency Action Protocol
Immediate Steps
1
CALL 911
State exact location and report an unresponsive person.
First Priority
2
Give Narcan
Administer naloxone nasal spray into one nostril.
Reverses Opioids
3
Recovery Position
Roll onto their side to prevent choking on vomit.
Clear Airway
4
Stay on Scene
Monitor breathing until first responders arrive.
Never Leave Alone
Good Samaritan laws protect you from drug charges when reporting an overdose. Save a Life First
Naloxone (Narcan) Realities
Medical Limits
What Narcan Does
- • Binds strongly to brain opioid receptors
- • Knocks opioid molecules off temporarily
- • Restores normal breathing within 2–3 minutes
- • Safe—will not harm if no opioids are present
Critical Limitations
- • Short Duration: Wears off in 30–90 minutes while drugs stay active
- • Multiple Doses: High-potency 7-OH may require repeated sprays
- • Non-Opioids: Ineffective against alcohol or xylazine ("tranq")
Giving Narcan NEVER replaces calling 911. Always get emergency medical personnel on the way. Call 911 First
Refusal Strategies
Action Scripts
1. Health Pivot
"No thanks, that stuff isn't regulated and people end up in the ER with seizures and liver damage."
Facts shut down arguments
2. Direct Exit
"I'm good. I don't take mystery gas station extracts or pills. Let's get pizza instead."
Firm 'No' + New activity
3. Goal Shield
"I've got practice and exams tomorrow—I can't afford brain fog or withdrawal sickness."
Anchor to what matters
Having a pre-planned script gives you immediate confidence when facing peer pressure.
Key Takeaways
Summary
The Big Risks
- • 7-OH is a concentrated opioid agonist, not tea
- • Zero FDA approval or safety regulation
- • Extreme addiction, organ strain, and lethal polysubstance synergy
Your Protection Plan
- • Question deceptive "all-natural" packaging
- • Use refusal scripts to stand your ground
- • In an emergency: Call 911, give Narcan, stay on scene
Knowledge is Your Shield
Protect your health, watch out for your friends, and make informed choices.
Facts Analysis Worksheet
Student Resource Substance Literacy & Risk Analysis
Kratom & 7-OH: Facts, Reasoning & Action
Health & Wellness Education Module 4: Emerging Trends
Student Name:
Date:
Class Period:
Part 1: Pharmacological Facts & Terminology
Match each concept to its correct scientific description by writing the correct letter in the blank space provided.
A. Mitragyna speciosa
B. 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH)
C. Biphasic Effect
D. Hepatotoxicity
E. FDA Regulatory Status
F. Polysubstance Synergy
1. Tropical Southeast Asian tree whose leaves contain active psychoactive alkaloids.
2. Highly concentrated kratom extract that acts as a potent opioid receptor agonist.
3. Producing stimulant-like alertness at low doses, but sedative/opioid effects at high doses.
4. Chemical-induced damage to the liver resulting from concentrated alkaloid toxicity.
5. Designated as a "substance of concern"; completely unapproved for any medical or dietary use.
Part 2: Critical Analysis — Deconstructing the "All-Natural" Pitch
Examine the mock convenience store product card below, then answer the analytical questions using factual evidence.
Shelf Exhibit A "7-HYDRO BLISS SHOT — 100% Pure Botanical Focus"
"Experience organic calm and razor-sharp stamina! Derived from authentic Asian tea leaves. Sold at your neighborhood corner store. Laboratory fortified with 45% active 7-OH matrix."
Consumer Notice:
• Natural leaf 7-OH: <2%
• This Product: 45% 7-OH
• Zero FDA quality check
1. Identify two deceptive marketing tactics used on this packaging designed to mislead consumers into thinking it is harmless:
2. Contrast the chemical reality: How does the concentration of 7-OH in this manufactured product compare to natural kratom leaves, and what acute risk does this create?
Kratom & 7-OH Comprehensive Worksheet • Student Investigation Page 1 of 2
Part 3 & 4: Application & Emergency Protocol
Real-World Problem Solving & Safety Responses
Student Name: _______________________
Part 3: Peer Pressure Scenarios & Refusal Strategies
Scenario A: The "All-Natural Focus" Pressure Study Session
Your friend pulls out a package of "7-Hydro" chewable tablets before finals, saying:
Teacher Guide and Key
Educator Guide Lesson Facilitation & Pedagogy
Kratom & 7-OH: Teacher Facilitator Guide
Duration: 45–60 Minutes
Grades: 9–12 / Health Ed
Core Objective 1
Differentiate natural kratom leaves from ultra-potent 7-OH extracts and recognize deceptive retail framing.
Core Objective 2
Analyze physiological hazards, severe dependency, organ risks (hepatotoxicity), and polysubstance lethality.
Core Objective 3
Formulate concrete refusal statements and execute the 4-step emergency overdose protocol including 911 activation.
Instructional Pacing Breakdown
00–10 Min: Hook & Origins
Slides 1–4. Examine botanical origins, alkaloids, and the biphasic dose paradox.
10–25 Min: 7-OH & Marketing
Slides 5–12. Investigate the 40%+ potency spike, deceptive retail displays, and organ toxicity.
25–45 Min: Worksheet & Practice
Worksheet Parts 1–3. Label deconstruction, peer refusal scripts, and polysubstance hazards.
45–55 Min: Emergency Triage
Slides 13–16 & Part 4. Spotting overdose signs, 911 protocol, Narcan realities, and Exit Ticket.
High-Yield Classroom Discussion Prompts
Prompt 1 (Critical Marketing): "Why does selling a product at a gas station counter or vape shop create a false perception of safety for teenagers?"
Teaching Note: Guide students to uncover the regulatory vacuum. Remind them that dietary supplements and novel botanicals do not require pre-market FDA safety vetting, allowing predatory manufacturers to exploit retail placement.
Prompt 2 (Pharmacology & Deception): "How does extracting 7-OH transform a botanical leaf into a drug that behaves like an opioid?"
Teaching Note: Emphasize that natural leaves contain under 2% 7-OH, while lab-refined products reach 40%–50% concentration, triggering opioid receptors, dangerous respiratory slowdown, and harsh physical dependency.
Prompt 3 (Overdose Realities & Civic Duty): "What prevents people from calling 911 during an overdose, and what legal protections exist to help them act?"
Teaching Note: Address fear of police or punishment. Emphasize Good Samaritan legislation that shields callers reporting overdoses, and emphasize that "sleeping it off" leads to fatal asphyxiation.
Common Student Misconceptions to Address
• Myth: "If it comes from a plant, it's safe." (Reality: Opium, poison hemlock, and cocaine also originate in plants.)
• Myth: "Narcan solves the problem permanently." (Reality: Narcan wears off in 30–90 minutes, risking rebound overdose.)
