Attorney General Warns of Deadly Opioid Sold at Montana Convenience Stores

HELENA — Attorney General Austin Knudsen is warning Montanans about a deadly opioid that’s easily available at gas stations and convenience stores across the state — a substance 13 times more potent than morphine that has killed 29 people in Montana since 2020.

The warning comes two months after the FDA recommended placing 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) on the federal controlled substances list, citing concerns about products “especially appealing to children and teenagers” like fruit-flavored gummies and ice cream cones sold in vape shops and corner stores nationwide.

The drug, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), is a concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant that’s often marketed as harmless “kratom” but contains dangerously high levels of synthetic opioid compounds. Unlike natural kratom leaves traditionally used for minor ailments, the 7-OH products sold commercially can cause respiratory depression, physical dependence and death.

“Please educate yourself and your family about the dangers of 7-OH. The drug may look harmless at the convenience store, but it can take your life,” Knudsen said. “As Attorney General, I will continue to do everything in my power to educate Montanans about the dangers of drugs, specifically opioids and the devastating impact they can have on Montanans and our communities.”

According to the Food and Drug Administration, 7-OH produces effects similar to fentanyl, morphine and oxycodone. The Montana Department of Health and Human Services has recorded 29 deaths involving 7-OH since 2020.

Deceptive Marketing of Dangerous Product

Many 7-OH products are advertised as “kratom,” misleading consumers about their actual potency and risks. While kratom plant leaves have been used at low levels for centuries to treat headaches, anxiety and insomnia, commercially sold 7-OH products contain highly concentrated, synthetically enhanced compounds designed for stronger effects.

The products come in various forms including powders, capsules and liquid extracts, readily available in gas stations, corner stores and vape shops throughout Montana. The FDA is particularly concerned about 7-OH products marketed to appeal to children, including fruit-flavored gummies and ice cream cones.

Currently, 7-OH is not listed as a controlled substance under Montana law, though the FDA recommended in July that the Drug Enforcement Administration place it on federal controlled substances lists. In June, the FDA issued warning letters to seven companies for illegally distributing 7-OH products.

The FDA has not approved 7-OH, and the agency states it cannot be lawfully added to dietary supplements or conventional foods.

“Vape stores are popping up in every neighborhood in America, and many are selling addictive products like concentrated 7-OH,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in July. “After the last wave of the opioid epidemic, we cannot get caught flat-footed again.”

Overdose Reversal Available

The opioid reversal drug naloxone can stop a 7-OH overdose, according to the attorney general’s office. This is the same medication used to reverse overdoses from other opioids like fentanyl and heroin.

Knudsen has secured multiple opioid settlements since taking office, including a $2.5 million settlement with eight drug manufacturers announced in July. The attorney general’s office has focused settlement funds on opioid abatement programs, treatment services and providing Narcan to emergency responders.

The warning about 7-OH represents a new front in Montana’s ongoing battle against opioid addiction, highlighting how dangerous substances can enter communities through seemingly legitimate retail channels.