CITIES REGULATING OR BANNING KRATOM/7-OH PRODUCTS
Orange County Cities with Full Ban
Dana Point- on 2/17/26 passed ordinance to second reading/adoption Newport Beach
Orange
Stanton
Tustin
Orange County Cities with Regulations
County of Orange-Bans products containing more than 2% 7-OH, and prohibits all sales to persons under 21 years old.
Anaheim-same as county
Buena Park-same as county
Huntington Beach-same as county
Laguna Niguel-same as county
OTHER CITIES IN CALIFORNIA WITH FULL BANS
Moreno Valley
Murieta
Temecula
Oceanside
San Diego
LOS ANGELES COUNTY: L.A. County Dept. Public Health reported six overdose deaths as of November 2025 and issued public health emergency directing retailers to immediately remove kratom and 7-OH products from shelves. Cities in LA County contract with the L.A.
County Dept. Public Health except for Long Beach. Long Beach Dept. Public Health in a press release dated Dec. 18, 2025, issued a warning urging the community to avoid Kratom or 7-OH products and further recommended users to carry naloxone, which can reverse opioid overdoses.
“7-OH” is the compound 7-Hydroxymitragynine.
In Connection to Agenda Item 11
PRESS RELEASE
City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeach.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Release # 121825
12/18/2025
Long Beach, CA – The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) is urging community members to avoid products containing kratom and the synthetic kratom compound 7- Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), which are being concentrated into unregulated products typically marketed to adults such as gummies, tablets, drink mixes and liquid “shots” sold in gas stations, smoke shops and online. This public health advisory comes following recent reports from Los Angeles County identifying six overdose deaths among adults ages 18 to 40 tied to concentrated 7-OH products. No deaths linked to 7-OH have been confirmed in Long Beach at this time.
These items are often marketed using terms such as “plant alkaloids,” “herbal supplements” or energy and mood aids. Because 7-OH levels in these products are unknown and unregulated, the risk of overdose is high.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has confirmed that foods, dietary supplements and medical drugs containing kratom and 7-OH are dangerous and illegal to sell or manufacture in California. Any food product with added kratom is considered adulterated and may be subject to impound or destruction.
The Health Department is notifying Long Beach retailers that products containing kratom or 7-OH are not lawful for sale in California. Retailers found selling illegal products may be subject to enforcement actions, including product removal, administrative penalties and potential seizure or destruction of products by regulatory agencies.
The safest thing to do is avoid using 7-OH and kratom-related products altogether. While the Health Department strongly advises against using kratom or 7-OH, people who choose to use any drug should take precautions to reduce the risk of overdose:
Never use alone. Always have someone nearby who can respond in case of overdose.
Stagger use in groups. This ensures at least one person is alert in emergencies.
Avoid mixing substances. Combining drugs can increase overdose risk.
Long Beach Health Department Urges Community to Avoid Kratom and 7-OH Products Amid Rising Overdose Risk
Subject:
Health Department Public Affairs Office
[email protected]
Contact:
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Carry naloxone. Naloxone can reverse opioid overdoses, including those involving 7-OH.
Multiple doses may be needed.
For more information about the City’s harm reduction efforts, including how to request free naloxone kits, drug test strips or register for naloxone training workshops, visit longbeach.gov/harmreduction.
Additional resources include:
Never Use Alone Hotline - A free, 24/7 peer-operated hotline at 800.484.3731 that connects people using drugs alone with a non-judgmental listener who will call emergency assistance if needed
Poison Control Center - Get help online or at 800.222.1222 if you suspect a poisoning.
Substance Use Services in Long Beach. A full list of local treatment and support services is available on the Community Resources tab at longbeach.gov/harmreduction.
Media inquiries may be directed to the Health Department’s Public Affairs Office at HE- [email protected]
For more news, pictures, videos and announcements of what’s happening in Long Beach, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
For Immediate Release:
November 07, 2025
Public Health Urges Retailers to Immediately Remove Illegal Kratom and 7- OH Products Amid Overdose Risk
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is advising retailers to immediately stop selling and remove products that contain kratom and the synthetic kratom compound known as 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) from their shelves. Per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), kratom and 7-OH products are not lawfully marketed in the U.S. or California as a drug product, dietary supplement, or food additive. Products containing 7-OH, particularly concentrated or synthetic forms, are not approved and illegal for sale in any form.
Starting next week, Public Health inspectors will begin inspections at tobacco shops and other retailers to ensure that kratom and 7-OH products are not being sold. If found, these illegal products will be red-tagged and must be removed from sale. Failure to comply could result in product seizure, destruction, fines and other penalties.
Recently, six overdose deaths in Los Angeles County among people aged 18 to 40 years old have been tied to 7-OH ingestion. “Kratom and 7-OH products are sold as natural remedies, but they are illegal and unsafe,” said Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County Health Officer. “They are sold in gas stations, smoke shops, online, and other retailers. People should avoid using these products, and store owners/operators must remove them immediately to prevent harm. At lower doses, 7-OH acts like a stimulant and at higher doses, it acts like an opioid. Mixing or using it with alcohol, prescription drugs, or illicit substances can significantly slow breathing and lead to death. Because these are unregulated products, their strength is unpredictable, making accidental overdose more likely. The safest choice is to avoid all 7- OH products."
About Kratom and 7-OH Products
7-OH, the psychoactive component of kratom leaves, is being synthetically concentrated into various products that are sold in gas stations, smoke shops, and other retail and online venues in LA County. At lower doses, 7-OH can have stimulant-like effects and at higher doses it has opioid-like effects. They are unregulated and often labeled with terms such as “plant alkaloids” or “alkaloid” and marketed as dietary supplements to address a broad range of issues such as pain, anxiety and mood disorders, opioid withdrawal, or energy/general well-being.
These products come in various forms such as tablets, gummies, drink mixes, and concentrated (“enhanced” or “super”) liquid extracts or shots for drinking, which significantly increase its adverse and life-threatening effects.
Particularly when used with alcohol, medications, and/or illicit drugs, 7-OH can cause severe respiratory depression and death. Importantly, these products are unregulated and may contain unknown concentrations of 7-OH, increasing the risk of unintentional overdose.
In July 2025, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) issued warning letters to firms for illegal marketing of concentrated 7-OH products and posted product images, saying, “7-OH is not lawful in dietary supplements and cannot be lawfully added to conventional foods. Additionally, there are no FDA-approved drugs containing 7-OH, and it is illegal to market any drugs containing 7-OH. Consumers who use 7-OH products are exposing themselves to products that have not been proven safe or effective for any use.” Reducing Risk
The safest course of action is to avoid using any 7-OH or kratom-related products.
To reduce the risk of overdose and death, Public Health urges anyone using these substances to:
· Never use alone: Using with another person is protective and increases the chances of lifesaving interventions such as the administration of naloxone in instances of an overdose. Naloxone can reverse 7-OH toxicity. · Stagger drug use with others: Making sure at least one person in the group can administer naloxone to reverse an overdose can save a life. · Avoid mixing 7-OH with other drugs: The effects of combining substances may be stronger and more unpredictable than using one drug alone and mixing and using multiple drugs increases the risk of an overdose. 313 N. Figueroa Street, Room 806 | Los Angeles, CA 90012 | (213) 288-8144 | [email protected]
· Carry naloxone: Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose and successfully restore breathing to reverse the effects of opioids, including 7- OH. Additional naloxone doses may be needed if no improvement or symptoms return until help arrives. Naloxone can be administered through the nose or as an intramuscular injection to save their life. Both methods are equally effective.
Additional Resources:
· Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Overdose Prevention Webpage: This Substance Abuse Prevention and Control (SAPC) website features information sheets and toolkits for the community relevant to overdose prevention. publichealth.lacounty.gov/sapc/public/overdose-prevention.htm · Poison Control (800) 222-1222
· Finding Substance Use Disorder Treatment In Los Angeles County, the general public, health care providers, and patients can find publicly funded substance use treatment services and bed availability using an online, filterable service locator known as the Services and Bed Availability Tool (SBAT), in the resource section of www.RecoverLA.org, or by calling the Substance Abuse Service Helpline (SASH). Services include outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment, residential treatment, withdrawal management, and Opioid Treatment Programs. · Service and Bed Availability Tool: SUDHelpLA.org
· RecoverLA mobile-friendly platform: RecoverLA.org
· Substance Abuse Service Helpline (SASH): (800) 854-7771 #####