Arizona’s Kratom Crackdown Risks Greater Harm, Doctor Warns

Arizona’s HB 2415, a bill targeting kratom and 7‑hydroxymitragynine (7‑OH) products, could unintentionally hurt thousands of residents who rely on them for chronic pain, PTSD and to reduce opioid use, writes Phoenix surgeon Jeffrey A. Singer in an opinion piece for the Arizona Republic. The bill responds to overdose fears, yet fatal incidents involving kratom or 7‑OH are very rare and usually involve multiple substances such as fentanyl or benzodiazepines, according to federal data. Singer argues that prohibition would drive vulnerable Arizonans to black‑market suppliers or back to opioids, increasing risk instead of reducing it. He calls instead for harm‑reduction measures—accurate labeling, testing, age limits and education—warning that outlawing 7‑OH will not erase danger, only push it into more hazardous, less visible corners. Read the original op‑ed at the Arizona Republic here.