A recent article published in the Philadelphia Inquirer featuring RCA’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jason Kirby, explores how manufacturers of kratom are reformulating their products to get ahead of potential bans in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Synthetic kratom products such as 7-Hydroxymitragynine, nicknamed “gas station heroin,” are facing legislation which would classify these drugs as controlled substances. Because of this, companies are quietly swapping out their active ingredients for related compounds that are not covered by the proposed bans, resulting in a rapidly changing gray market that lawmakers are having difficulty keeping up with.
Within the policy debate, Dr. Kirby raises an important question: what happens to the individuals who are dependent on these substances when they’re suddenly off shelves? States that have passed sweeping bans like those proposed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey are seeing an influx in emergency room visits from those who are dependent on kratom, reminding us that legislation and resources for treatment should be considered together.
At Recovery Centers of America, we treat kratom dependency alongside a full range of substance use and mental health conditions. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available 24/7 at 1-800-RECOVERY.
Read the full article on the Philadelphia Inquirer or Headtopics
