Kansas City and DOJ authorities recently seized about 73,000 products containing 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly called “7‑OH,” from warehouses linked to two companies: Shaman Botanicals LLC and Relax Relief Rejuvenate Trading LLC. These products were sold as gummies, drink shots, and tablets. They are frequently seen for sale at convenience stores, gas stations, and smoke shops. The seizure came after reports of addiction and serious health risks connected to products sold across Kansas City.

Several companies selling kratom extracts received FDA warnings earlier in 2025 for illegally selling products containing 7‑OH. Despite these warnings, authorities say they continued distributing these products, prompting a large seizure. Authorities from both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) helped with the operation.

What Is Kratom?

Kratom is a plant that comes from Southeast Asia. People in those areas have used kratom leaves for hundreds of years to self-treat pain, energy, anxiety, or even to ease withdrawal from opioids. The leaves contain natural chemicals, including mitragynine and smaller amounts of 7‑hydroxymitragynine, which can affect the brain and body in ways similar to opioids.

While traditional kratom leaves are sometimes used safely in low amounts, there is a big danger associated with concentrated products or extracts.

What Are 7‑OH Extracts?

7‑OH, or 7-hydroxymitragynine, is one of the chemicals naturally found in kratom leaves, but usually in minute amounts. Some companies have decided to extract it and make it much stronger than what you would get from regular kratom. These concentrated extracts are often marketed as safe herbal supplements, even though they are not. In fact, they are as dangerous as street drugs, and less is known about them.

Unlike standard kratom, concentrated 7‑OH products can act as potent opioids. They can be highly addictive, and there is a risk of overdose with them, especially if combined with medications or other drugs. They can slow breathing, cause addiction, and even lead to overdose. The FDA has not approved any 7‑OH products for medical use, and selling them in food or supplements is illegal.

Are 7‑OH Products Really Addictive?

Yes. Because 7‑OH is a strong opioid-like substance, it can be highly addictive. People using these products can develop dependency and withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop. Sadly, many people take these substances when trying to get sober from other drug use, accidentally trading one drug for another.

The high potency of these extracts makes them even more dangerous than plain kratom. Combining them with other substances or sedatives increases the risk of overdose, long-term health issues, and even death.

Why the Seizure Matters

The seizure of 73,000 products in Kansas City shows how seriously authorities are treating the threat of 7‑OH. Regulators are moving to classify concentrated 7‑OH as a Schedule I controlled substance, putting it in the same category as heroin or fentanyl.

Officials strongly advise avoiding any products that contain 7‑OH, especially those sold in gas stations, smoke shops, or convenience stores. Even if labeled as “natural” or “kratom,” these concentrated extracts are dangerous and illegal.

7‑OH extracts are a different and dangerous product from kratom, and neither of them has any substantiated health benefits. Extracts are highly addictive, just like heroin and other opioids, and have caused serious health issues in adults and teens who use them.

If you or somebody you love is addicted to kratom, help is available. Please get in touch with our compassionate addiction recovery care consultants at 1-800-425-1564 to learn more about treatment options.

In late September, attorneys launched a landmark, multidistrict lawsuit against several technology giants, accusing them of creating and driving social media addiction in minors. The lawsuit is the first of its kind and recounts harm from many states, including California.

The lawsuit draws on a mountain of research on social media harms and on stories from thousands of young people affected by them.

At the core of the lawsuit’s claims is the argument that social media is addictive by design because it taps directly into the same neurological reward systems that are activated by gambling, slot machines, and other forms of behavioral addiction. When it comes to younger people who know nothing of its dangers, social media companies are allegedly training a generation of addicted people.

Who Filed the Social Media Lawsuit and Where Will It Be Tried?

The In re Social Media Adolescent Addiction / Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 3047) is a massive federal case that combines hundreds of lawsuits from across the United States against companies such as Meta (Facebook and Instagram), TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat.

The lawsuit includes families, individuals, school districts, and even some state attorneys. The general claim is that social media platform makers purposefully designed it to be addictive and encourage compulsive use, such as “forever scrolling” or doomscrolling. For younger people, these behaviors are linked to anxiety, depression, eating disorders, sleep disruption, and self-harm. In fact, some users have joined communities dedicated to topics like eating disorders or self-harm and found themselves in a rabbit hole of dysfunction that encouraged the behavior. All individuals and families who are part of the lawsuit say they have experienced harm.

What Does Social Media Addiction Look Like?

People who are addicted to social media have trouble focusing on almost anything else. Younger people may become isolated or obsessed with their online images or scroll compulsively into the late night. No matter what content they consume, their brain will be rewarded for it, creating an unhealthy feedback loop that relies more on “likes” than critical thinking.

Why does this happen? Research shows that social media platforms stimulate the brain’s mesolimbic dopamine system, which is the same reward pathway activated by gambling, drugs, and other addictive behaviors. Each “like,” comment, or new follower triggers a dopamine release, creating short bursts of pleasure and satisfaction.

Dopamine also provides motivation and anticipation of rewards, which is where the addiction comes in. The brain learns to expect a reward, and when the reward doesn’t come (for example, a post gets fewer likes), the user feels discomfort or craving.

This unpredictable cycle of reward and disappointment is what keeps people coming back.

Over time, the brain becomes desensitized to dopamine. Users need to spend more time scrolling or chasing likes to feel the same dopamine “high.”  This pattern mirrors the tolerance seen in substance addiction and gambling addiction. For some young people, this may mean staying up late at night, ignoring schoolwork and responsibilities, and being preoccupied with what is happening online.

Is Social Media Designed to Be Addictive?

Experts say that the addictive loop doesn’t happen by accident. Social media is intentionally designed to increase the number of interactions from its users. They have departments that study user behavior and perfect their system to encourage:

• Infinite scrolling: No natural stopping point means the brain never gets a “closure” signal.
• Autoplay and algorithmic feeds: Each new post or video is personalized to hold your attention longer.
• Intermittent notifications: Alerts about likes, tags, or messages trigger dopamine surges even before the user opens the app.
• Streaks and social pressure: Features like Snapchat’s “Snap streaks” create emotional incentives not to break daily engagement habits.
• Reward metrics (likes, views, followers): Quantifying social validation gamifies interaction, turning self-expression into competition.

Much of social media is designed based on gambling psychology and game theory. Many people don’t understand that their behavior is being manipulated, especially people whose brains are still forming. That’s not what most people would think of when they think about social media. For many, it’s just a place to find hobbies and keep up with friends and family.

For others, it can be a dark place. Many young people are harmed by other users through behavior such as grooming or bullying. Others are drawn into online communities that celebrate the perpetuation of mental illness, such as communities celebrating anorexia or self-harm.

These lawsuits look to hold companies accountable for harm in a similar way that the tobacco and then opioid lawsuits did. If based on the opioid lawsuits, money would go to reparations, such as anxiety treatment, as well as requiring a new way of doing business that doesn’t change the way a person’s brain works.

On October 20, U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter H. Kang told TikTok to produce communications and materials from employees responsible for “user safety, media inquiries, or complaint handling”. However, he did not allow a subpoena for an incident involving an influencer named Eugenia Cooney, In May 2025, she appeared unwell during a livestream and was seen visiting the company’s New York offices not too much later. Communications about that event will be kept out of court.

Getting Help for Addiction

If you or somebody you love is struggling with addiction, help is available.  Millions of people, from every walk of life, have needed help to get free from their substance use disorder. The good news is that treatment is available, and you don’t have to live the life of addiction anymore. Compassionate professionals are ready to help you at 1-800-425-1564. Give them a call to learn more about your options. You’re not alone!

Last week, the World Health Organization admonished the tobacco industry for creating a new wave of young people addicted to tobacco. According to a new report, at least fifteen million children currently vape nicotine, and billions of people in the world are still addicted to one form of tobacco or another. In fact, one in five adults worldwide is addicted to nicotine. While the number of adults addicted to nicotine is trending downward, new products are creating new pathways to addiction.

The UN agency said in a report on Monday that one in five adults worldwide, or 1.2bn people, were still addicted to tobacco, down from 1.38bn in 2000. But the agency warned that new products and technologies, such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, were increasingly recruiting new and younger tobacco users, rather than simply supporting ex-smokers to quit. “E-cigarettes are fueling a new wave of nicotine addiction,” said Etienne Krug, a departmental director at the WHO. “They are marketed as harm reduction but, in reality, are hooking kids on nicotine earlier and risk undermining decades of progress.”

Nicotine Pouches and Addiction

The World Health Organization says that Big Tobacco just looks for new ways to addict consumers worldwide. One newer mode of using nicotine is the nicotine pouch. Marketed by suppliers as a cleaner, safer way to consume nicotine, a nicotine pouch is a small, white, smokeless product that delivers nicotine through the lining of a person’s gums.

Here’s how to recognize it.

• The pouch looks a bit like a mini tea bag.
• It’s placed between a person’s gums and upper lip, where it slowly releases nicotine.
• Nicotine is absorbed through the oral mucosa (the tissue inside your mouth).
• After about 20–40 minutes, the user throws the pouch away.

Curbing Nicotine Addiction for New Generations

The WHO wants governments around the globe to increase their regulations regarding the tobacco industry. Raising taxes and banning advertising can help stem the flow of younger users.

Vaping is not the only threat to young people. Touted by the tobacco industry as safer than other forms of nicotine use, pouches are still addictive.

What’s in a Nicotine Pouch

Even though nicotine pouches are marketed as “tobacco-free,” they still contain other chemicals besides nicotine. A typical pouch includes:

• Nicotine (either synthetic or extracted from tobacco)
• Plant fibers (used as filler)
• Flavorings (mint, fruit, coffee, etc.)
• Sweeteners (like xylitol or acesulfame K)
• pH adjusters (such as sodium carbonate or bicarbonate, to help the nicotine absorb faster)
• Moisture agents (like propylene glycol)

These chemicals add flavor and texture as well as help a person’s body absorb the addictive component, nicotine.  They can also irritate your mouth or gums over time and may have other long-term health effects.

However, once heated, other chemicals that users are exposed to are more dangerous. These include:

• Diacetyl: This additive is meant to enhance e-cigarette flavors. It can also damage small passageways in the lungs.
• Formaldehyde: This is a toxic chemical that causes lung disease and can contribute to cardiovascular disease.
• Acrolein: This chemical, also in weed killers, can damage lungs.

Long-Term Consequences of Pouch and Vaping Addiction

Nicotine addiction is not harmless, even when there’s no smoke. There are long-term cardiovascular effects from using any form of nicotine. Vaping is known to cause serious lung problems, including popcorn lungs, in compulsive users, especially young people who don’t understand addiction.

Long-term health consequences are grim when it comes to nicotine addiction.

Countries have trouble regulating new products, which can cause a social health crisis as addicted youngsters grow up and suffer the ill health effects. The WHO urges countries to tighten regulations and for Big Tobacco to stop marketing in a way that attracts young people to their products.

Many parents are unaware of newer products like pouches and patches, and may not recognize the signs of addiction unless they are talking to their teens.

Getting Help for Substance Use Disorder

If you or somebody you love is struggling with a substance use disorder, treatment is available. Many people have found hope and reclaimed their lives through recovery. Learn more about your options for help at 1-800-425-1564.

A dangerous trend, called the “Benadryl Challenge,” has grown popular again on TikTok, urging young people to take high doses of diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl. The users take it so they can experience hallucinations.

Most often, it’s teens who are experimenting with drugs in challenges like the Benadryl challenge. They view it as an over-the-counter drug, thinking that it’s safe to take, even at high levels. (The FDA says in no uncertain terms that it’s not safe to take diphenhydramine at high levels and overdoses can lead to death.)

What Are The Risks of High Doses of Benadryl?

Benadryl is an over-the-counter antihistamine often used to treat allergies, colds, or as a sleep aid. At normal doses, it is considered safe.

Medical research shows that when taken in high amounts, diphenhydramine acts as an anticholinergic, disrupting the nervous system and causing mental confusion, irregular heartbeat, seizures, and even coma. Some users experience hallucinations when they overdose on it.

Benadryl Overdose Symptoms to Watch For

If you have a young person in your household who may be experimenting with substances, learn the symptoms of a diphenhydramine overdose. These can include:

• Extreme drowsiness, difficulty waking up or loss of consciousness.
• Confusion or hallucinations.
• Fast or irregular heartbeat.
• Seizures, convulsions, or breathing problems.
• Dry mouth, dilated pupils, or blurred vision

When a person exhibits these symptoms, it’s important to get medical help. They may seem mild, but things can go downhill quickly. Whenever a person has misused drugs, the symptoms can be unpredictable. In rare instances, Benadryl can cause heart problems such as Long QT syndrome, which can lead to a heart attack at any age.  If a young person has taken a drug in excess, it’s best to get them checked out in the emergency room.

What to Do in Case of Overdose

If someone has overdosed, immediate action is vital. Call 911 if the person won’t wake up, they have a seizure, or they have breathing trouble. When a person is conscious but has other symptoms, you can call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or use their online tool. Specialists can give real-time instructions based on what was taken and when.  Often, an ER trip will be needed.

Doctors warn against trying home remedies. Trying to induce vomiting or adding another substance to their system can make things worse.

Why This Trend Matters

The Benadryl Challenge is an example of how viral trends can lead young people to underestimate the risks associated with common medications. Because diphenhydramine is sold over the counter, it may appear safe, but in large amounts it can be deadly. Experts say that education and honest conversations are the best ways to keep young people safe.

Parents should stay informed on viral social media challenges and pay attention to what their children are consuming and participating in online. While TikTok dances are fun and harmless, other challenges pose serious risks. Helping teens make informed decisions about their online participation can help them lead healthier lives. Parental guidance will help them have a safer relationship with social media in general.

The “challenge” is far from harmless.

When Misuse Becomes Dependence or Addiction

Although Benadryl is not usually thought of as addictive, repeated misuse can create dangerous patterns. People may start using it often to experience hallucinations or self-medicate stress, anxiety, or depression, which can lead to dependence. Long-term overuse has been linked to psychiatric symptoms, memory problems, and frequent hospitalizations.

For people struggling with diphenhydramine misuse or other substances, help is available. Treatment options include medical detox, counseling, and support groups. Families are encouraged to respond with care, avoid judgment, and support loved ones in finding professional help. An interventionist may be able to help if you’re not sure how to get started.

To learn more about how treatment can help you break free from substance use, give us a call at 1-800-425-1564. Our consultants can help you find a path to recovery.

Have you seen TikTok videos being passed around warning about a Kratom drink that causes addiction? “Feel Free” is a drink that has opioid-like effects and is sold at gas stations and convenience stores across the US.

What Is “Feel Free” and Why Is Kratom in It?

“Feel Free” is a drink sold in stores and online, advertised as a natural way to feel more relaxed, focused, or energized. It’s recently gone viral on multiple platforms due to users becoming addicted.

This drink’s primary ingredient is kratom, a plant that grows naturally in Southeast Asia. People in that region once chewed kratom leaves or made them into tea to ease pain or fight fatigue. The tree itself is banned in many locations due to its addictive properties. However, America has not outlawed it and allows it to be sold as a supplement.

Today, kratom is processed into pills, powders, and drinks like “Feel Free,” which may hold much higher doses than traditional use. People use it for everything from chronic pain or anxiety to helping stave off withdrawal symptoms for opioids.

Kratom has two main chemicals: mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. These substances act on the brain’s opioid receptors and cause similar effects. This is one reason some people use it for pain or anxiety. It’s also why kratom can be addictive.

What Does “Kratom Extract” Really Mean?

Products like “Feel Free” often use kratom extract instead of just ground-up leaves. When kratom is extracted, the active chemicals are much stronger. Extracts can be 10 to 20 times more powerful than raw leaf powder. This makes the effects come on faster and last longer but also increases the risk of unwanted side effects.

The strength of these products is not always clearly labeled. That can lead people to take more than they meant to, especially if they don’t realize they are drinking a high-dose extract. Combining kratom with alcohol, medications, or other stimulants makes the risks even greater.

The Mechanics of Kratom Addiction

Addiction happens when the body and brain start depending on a substance. Kratom can lead to addiction because its active chemicals attach to the same brain receptors as opioids. They behave similarly to opioids like heroin. Over time, the brain may begin to expect kratom just to feel normal. This can lead to tolerance, where a person needs more to feel the same effect.

If someone who uses kratom regularly stops suddenly, they may go through withdrawal. Common symptoms include muscle aches, insomnia, sweating, anxiety, and irritability.

These signs show that kratom can create physical and emotional dependence. Products like “Feel Free,” which use concentrated kratom extract, may make addiction more likely.

What We Know and Don’t Know About Kratom

The FDA does not approve kratom for any medical use and has warned about serious safety concerns. Because it is sold as a supplement, there are no official laws about testing, dosage, or labeling. Some products have been found to have heavy metals, bacteria, or stronger levels of kratom than claimed.

Scientific research is still ongoing. Until more is known, using kratom carries a health risk, especially for young people or those with other medical conditions.

Getting Help for Kratom or “Feel Free” Addiction

While kratom is often marketed as a natural, legal substance, it can still be dangerous. Products like “Feel Free” may have high doses of kratom extract that increase the chance of addiction or overdose. If you or someone you care about is struggling with kratom use, help is available.

You can call 800-626-4014 to speak with someone who can assist you in finding detox or treatment options. Recovery is possible, and you don’t have to go through it alone.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is working on a plan to create thousands of mental health treatment “slots” by 2030. This is in response to a gap in care that the county is dealing with when it comes to drug treatment and mental health. The five-year plan would expand access to services across the board.

Dubbed the Substance Use Disorder Optimal Care Pathways, the plan calls for doubling residential treatment capacity. That would mean going from today’s 4,978 slots to 8,851 slots in five years. They also would increase outpatient treatment capacity from 9,332 slots to 18,390 slots and expand housing resources linked to behavioral healthcare from 2,627 slots to 5,033 slots.

According to board Vice Chair Terra Lawson-Remer’s office, a slot is “an episode of care,” such as access to a patient bed, a group therapy session or an appointment with a clinician who can administer medication-assisted treatment or psych medication.

According to a statement from Lawson-Remer and Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe, the county “has already made major strides” in improving substance use disorder services by adding more than 5,100 treatment slots since 2021.

Does This Improve Access to Treatment?

For inpatient programs, there will need to be a slot for each patient every day for 28 to 30 days. Programs like these will provide structure, intensive therapy throughout the day as well as medication management. Treatment programs for drugs focus on preparing people for continued recovery.

Treatment is complex depending on what addiction a person is battling. If there are withdrawal symptoms involved, a medical detox may be needed. People also typically need comprehensive evaluations to assess their medical history, mental health status, and substance use patterns to help create an appropriate treatment plan.

Many people, especially those addicted to opioids, choose a medically supervised detox process to manage withdrawal symptoms safely. There, they can get both therapy and help managing physically uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. 

Will “Therapy Slots” for Treatment Work?

Individual therapy is a key component of treatment. One-on-one sessions and group sessions are important parts of addiction treatment. These sessions help people in recovery identify triggers, develop coping strategies, and address underlying emotional or psychological concerns. Group therapy helps people share experiences, learn from peers, and build a sense of community. Topics in group sessions often include relapse prevention, emotional regulation, and stress management.

Family therapy may also be incorporated to help repair relationships and establish a stronger support system. Since addiction and mental health issues often impact loved ones, involving family members benefit from healing through therapy.

All of this therapy, however, would have a treatment slot per appointment. It’s not clear if they will then “limit” how many appointments a client can use, or how inpatient slots will be counted when it comes to therapy.

Short-term residential treatment is ideal for people who need a structured environment to stabilize and receive intensive support. Additional beds are always needed for indigent people. While these programs provide a strong foundation, long-term success depends on continued therapy, aftercare, and a reliable support system. There will also need to be “credits” for these appointments and Medication-Assisted Treatment appointments, as well. 

Getting Help for Addiction 

If you or somebody you love is struggling with substance use, we’re here to help you navigate your treatment options in the San Diego area. It doesn’t matter what your background is or what drugs you use, there’s help available for you. Give us a call at 1-800-425-1564 to learn more.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Journavx, a new pain medication for people with short-term pain. This is the first innovative, novel drug created for pain management in more than 20 years. Designed to treat pain following surgeries or injuries, Journavx can offer an alternative to opioids. It is also an appropriate alternative to over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen. 

The ability of the drug to help more than standard non-opioid painkillers is indeed a game changer for the world of pharmaceuticals. 

Effectiveness Compared to Opioids

In clinical trials involving over 870 patients who underwent foot and abdominal surgeries, Journavx demonstrated greater pain relief than a placebo. While it didn’t outperform opioids, it provided similar relief to an opioid-acetaminophen combination.

Dr. Michael Schuh, a pharmacist and pain specialist at the Mayo Clinic, says, “It’s not a slam dunk on effectiveness. But it is a slam dunk in that it’s a very different pathway and mechanism of action, so I think that shows a lot of promise.”

How Journavx Works Differently

Traditional opioids bind to brain receptors to block pain signals (while also causing addictive effects). Journavx blocks proteins responsible for transmitting pain before the signals reach the brain.

Dr. David Altshuler of Vertex Pharmaceuticals explains, “In trying to develop medicines that don’t have the addictive risks of opioid medicines, a key factor is working to block pain signaling before it gets to the brain.”

This method eliminates the high risk of addiction associated with opioids while still offering pain relief.

Journavx is not without side effects. Some of the most commonly reported include:

• Nausea
• Constipation
• Itching
• Rash
• Headache

However, unlike opioids, Journavx does not pose a risk of addiction, respiratory depression, or overdose.

The Opioid Crisis: How Many People Get Addicted Each Year?

Opioid addiction remains a major public health issue in the United States. Each year, millions develop opioid use disorder, often due to prescribed painkillers.

Opioids are still highly addictive drugs that can cause overdose and death when misused. 2.5 million adults in the U.S. suffered from opioid use disorder in 2021, but only 1 in 5 of those affected received treatment. Nearly 50% of those who had used opioid drugs in the past month where men over the age of 30. s

While opioid prescriptions have declined significantly in the past decade, the current opioid epidemic is fueled by illicit fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50-100 times stronger than heroin and is responsible for the majority of overdoses in the United States. Many people who use other opioids don’t realize that the drug they are taking is fentanyl. It’s a recipe for disaster or fatal overdose. 

This shift toward more deadly opioids highlights the urgent need for non-addictive pain treatments, such as Journavx.

How Opioid Addiction Works

Opioids create addiction by changing how the brain works. The drugs work by blocking pain and triggering a surge of dopamine, a chemical that produces intense pleasure. This feeling, which can help with pain relief, often drives people to keep taking the drug.

Over time, the brain adapts and requires higher doses to produce the same effect. This process, called tolerance, makes people take more of the drug. When they stop using opioids, their brain struggles to function. This can lead to withdrawal symptoms like pain, nausea, anxiety, and cravings. These effects make quitting extremely difficult.

Opioids cause serious harm, including:

• Addiction: The brain depends on the drug and resists stopping.
• Overdose: High doses slow or stop breathing, which can be fatal.
• Health problems: The drug damages organs, weakens the immune system, and increases infection risk.
• Mental health effects: It triggers depression, anxiety, and mood swings.
• Life consequences: Addiction destroys relationships, careers, and finances.

Even when prescribed, opioids pose serious risks and require careful use.

The Future of Journavx and Non-Opioid Pain Treatments

Vertex Pharmaceuticals is now focusing on expanding its non-opioid pain relief pipeline, aiming for FDA approval in chronic pain management. Despite setbacks in recent trials, the company is pushing forward with new studies to refine its approach.

The approval of Journavx signals a potential breakthrough in pain management—one that could help reduce dependence on highly addictive opioids while still providing effective relief.

Getting Help for Opioid Addiction

If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid addiction, help is just a phone call away. Our compassionate team is ready to guide you toward a path of recovery and answer any questions you may have!  Call us at 1-800-825-1564 to learn more about your options.