Kratom is a plant from Southeast Asia that people have used for centuries, traditionally for energy and pain relief. In the United States today, it's sold as teas, powders, capsules, and concentrated shots, often marketed as a "natural supplement" or an "opioid exit ramp." You can find it at gas stations, smoke shops, kratom bars, and online.
7-OH (short for 7-hydroxymitragynine) is kratom's most active compound. It works on the same brain receptors as opioids like morphine and oxycodone, and lab testing suggests it's substantially more potent than morphine at those receptors. In small amounts, it can act like a mild stimulant or pain reliever. In larger amounts, it produces sedation and euphoria similar to an opioid, and regular use can lead to physical dependence.
It's worth knowing that the market has shifted in recent years from raw kratom leaf (which contains a mix of compounds that balance each other out, with 7-OH making up about 2% or less) toward highly concentrated 7-OH extracts, sold as shots, gummies, capsules, and tinctures under names like "7-OH Gold" or "MIT45 Boost." Some of these products can be over 98% concentrated at 7-OH. These concentrated products carry a different, higher level of risk than traditional kratom leaf, and dosing is not standardized, so it's easy to take more than you realize.
One more thing worth knowing: some drinks and products containing kratom, such as Feel Free, are marketed as clean-energy or alcohol alternatives, and many people don't realize they contain kratom at all.