OCTOBER 28, 2025, BISHOP, CA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Inyo County Echoes Statewide Warning on Kratom and 7-OH Products

Inyo County Health & Human Services-Public Health and Environmental Health are alerting the community to recent warnings from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) about the serious health risks associated with products containing Kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). These substances are illegal to sell or manufacture in California and have been linked to addiction, severe illness, and death.

Since April 2025, several fatal overdoses in Los Angeles County have been connected to 7-OH, prompting CDPH to take enforcement action to remove these products from retail stores and online marketplaces statewide. Despite these efforts, Kratom and 7-OH items continue to surface in some gas stations, smoke shops, and online retailers.

Kratom and 7-OH are derived from the kratom plant and act as potent opioids. Neither substance is approved for use as a dietary supplement, food additive, or medication in the United States. Reported side effects include addiction, anxiety, seizures, withdrawal symptoms, respiratory failure, and death.

Inyo County urges residents to take the following precautions:

• Avoid purchasing or consuming any products labeled as containing Kratom or 7-OH.
• Read product labels carefully — these substances are often disguised as energy shots, gummies, tablets, or “natural” wellness products.
• Carry Naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdose. Naloxone is available at Inyo County Public Health, 1360 N. Main Street, Bishop or call 760-873-7868 for more information.

If someone shows signs of overdose, unresponsiveness, slow or stopped breathing, call 911 immediately and administer naloxone if available.

The county will continue to support CDPH’s prevention efforts by educating retailers and monitoring local establishments to help keep unsafe products out of the community.

CDPH press release can be found here: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR25-016.aspx

For more information or to report the sale of Kratom or 7-OH products, call the CDPH Complaint Hotline at (800) 495-3232 or visit www.cdph.ca.gov