SAUGUS — The Board of Health was briefed on the plant-based drug, kratom, which originated in Southeast Asia for medicinal and stimulant purposes, but has been found to cause an opioid-like high.
“It’s been showing up all over the country, but certainly our area in Massachusetts, in every form. It’s in a bag, a powder, it’s in pill form, it’s in drinks. There’s very little it isn’t infused or mixed with,” Joyce Redford, director of the North Shore Boards of Health Tobacco Control Program, said.
She noted that there have been multiple deaths caused by kratom, and both the plant and synthetic form of the drug can affect the opioid receptors in the brain.
The synthetically altered form of the drug is called 7-OH and, according to Redford, they have a potency stronger than morphine and is compared to fentanyl.
“As a region, (and) also across the state, a lot of boards of health are considering writing local regulations to either get these products removed, certainly the synthetic products, and even the natural ones,” she said.
Redford noted that if the Board did not want to regulate them out, they could add restrictions to purchasing the product.
“However, my experience being out in the field for this many years is that if it is a supplement, if that’s what they’re going to determine it to be or call it, it certainly shouldn’t be sold in convenience stores and gas stations and unregulated,” Redford said.
She said there have been multiple poisonings, overdoses, and deaths caused by kratom, especially in the synthetic form.
Board member Geraldine Gatchell asked Redford when something would be done. Redford responded that the Food and Drug Administration hasn’t taken any action on the issue yet, noting they’re moving slowly and that the fastest way to address it right now is at the local level.
Public Health Nurse Teresa Riley-Singh asked if Narcan is capable of helping during an overdose.
“With the synthetic one they are saying it is responsive to Narcan,” Redford said, however as of right now Narcan does not help when kratom is in its natural form. “Because… whatever element or component isn’t in the natural one, although it is still affecting that part of the brain.”
Redford recommended that the Board make it so that kratom is not self-served and put a 21-plus age restriction on it.
While Redford did note that some people have used kratom as a way to get off of opioids, she highlighted that there are still people using it as an easy high that can be dangerous.
Board member Dr. Anthony Bakopolus asked about the accessibility of the drug, and Redford stated that it can be found in products that can be purchased at convenience stores and gas stations.
As of right now, the discussion about kratom is information-based, but as it moves along, decisions will have to be made as to what path to take. Redford stated that some municipalities are focusing on prohibiting the synthetic form, while others are looking into prohibiting both. In contrast, some focus on prohibiting the synthetic form and restricting who can purchase the natural form.
