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Jump to Key Points Oct 12 (Reuters) - The US Drug Enforcement Administration has proposed emergency restrictions placing some products with synthetic opioid-like compounds derived from kratom under the strictest category of federal drug control, if they exceed certain concentrations.
The DEA issued two notices of intent on Friday, based on recommendations from the US Department of Health and Human Services, to distinguish products containing trace amounts of the substances from intentionally enhanced or concentrated formulations.
• The action targets four substances linked to kratom, a plant from Southeast Asia known to produce opioid-like effects
• The DEA is targeting 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), found in trace amounts in kratom, and three related opioid substances derived or chemically modified from the plant: mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI), MGM-15, and MGM-16
- DEA proposes Schedule I for concentrated kratom-derived opioid-like products.
- Targeted compounds: 7-OH, MGPI, MGM-15, MGM-16.
- Trace kratom levels distinguished from intentionally enhanced formulations.
- Schedule I = high abuse potential; no accepted U.S. medical use.
- 7-OH order pending; revised notice to reflect updated HHS recommendation.
• The DEA proposed that products in which 7-OH and MGPI exceed certain concentrations, or fall below a specified mitragynine-to-7-OH/MGPI ratio, be temporarily placed in Schedule I
• Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act is reserved for drugs with a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use in the United States
• The DEA in August cited an immediate threat to public safety to temporarily place MGPI, MGM-15 and MGM-16 under the strictest category of federal drug control
• For 7-OH, the DEA said it had not yet issued a temporary scheduling order and would release a revised notice reflecting HHS's updated recommendation
(Reporting by Sneha S K in Bengaluru; Editing by Jonathan Ananda)
