NOW WHAT? –
Sept. 4, 2025 – Imagine walking through a convenience store and seeing a bright red package filled with small, strawberry cream-filled waffle cones. Next to it are single-serve fruit-flavored drink mixes that appear to be hydration packets.
While these might sound appealing, they actually contain a compound that can be 13 times more potent than morphine.
I’m talking about 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), which is a byproduct of kratom, a tropical tree native to the wetlands of Southeast Asia. Commonly referred to as “gas station heroin,” it’s frequently sold as a tablet, capsule, extract or even an herbal tea. I was first made aware of the dangers of this substance from a Hamilton County mother who was devastated by its fatal side effects. Her son, Matthew Davenport, a longtime Chattanooga resident, tragically lost his life in 2024 following a lethal interaction…
