7-OH" (7-hydroxymitragynine) is a highly potent, highly addictive opioid-like compound found in the kratom plant. While it occurs naturally in trace amounts in the leaves, concentrated and lab-synthesized 7-OH products are widely sold in smoke shops and gas stations as gummies, shots, and tablets.

Check it out.. I blame nothing, and NO ONE, for my relapse. I made a choice. But let me tell you somethin.. When I read the first part of this when it said “Store clerk gave him a free sample.” I lost my breath. That’s exactly how I started on this stuff. I’d turned to Kratom for pain and anxiety and as I was buying the capsules one day the clerk gave me a sample of this 7-OH. I took it and in my mind I knew if he’s giving it to me, there’s a reason. But I put it in my console. Problem #1 that’s how reservations are made. Problem #2 (Really #1) I didn’t refuse it in the first place.

I was working at the shelter at the time, and winter was setting in. I called it our Super Bowl in GroupMe. Our time to shine. Save lives one winter night at a time. When I tell you running a shelter is stressful in the winter, that comes from 8 years in law enforcement, being the “Hot Dog King” at Tyson both very stressful jobs. Point is, I know stress and how to navigate it.

One day I got word that one of the guys I’d kicked out of the shelter had gotten frostbite and lost both of his hands. This after I’d tried to get him to come in and talk to me about his ban and he never showed. Found out he didn’t show because he was in the hospital after the amputations. 

I went to my car and reached in the console to find a lighter and I felt the package. Since instead of doing everything that I’ve been in 10 years I opened the package up. And I proceeded to throw away 10 years, but I didn’t realize when I did that that I was thrown away way more. It was a lot like the first time that I used a real dose of opiates.

The city of St. Joseph and the state of Missouri are both dragging their feet like they did with the PDMP. Missouri has a long long history of being one of the least progressive one of the least for thinking states when it comes to social issues and make a mistake this is a social issue. So I love everybody support in this, not just for me for the cause. The fentanyl crisis is a real thing and make a mistake. 70H is part of that crisis. This stuff is diabolical. The stuff is stronger than oxy. This stuff is stronger than hydrocodone. The stuff is stronger than the morphine and the withdrawals are the worst thing I’ve ever been through. This stuff is borderline satanic in what it does to your brain.