You can get an opioid-like drug at CT gas stations. There is ‘dangerous stuff’ for sale: lawmaker

Hartford Courant – Wednesday, October 15, 2025
By Livi Stanford

Across the country, an increasing number of people are being treated for addiction to a lesser known substance that’s available over the counter in most states.

Sometimes called “gas station heroin” because of its availability alongside gum and energy shots, kratom’s impact is causing concern.

In Connecticut, the Department of Consumer Protection is proposing regulations to designate kratom a Schedule 1 controlled substance.

Health experts and doctors have warned about the addictive nature of the unregulated substance and its potent component, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), which when taken can result in opiate-like respiratory depression, dependency and withdrawal risks.

Kratom has gained popularity in the U.S. as an unapproved treatment for pain, anxiety and drug dependence. A Harvard Health article estimates more than 15 million people use it in the U.S.

State Rep. Roland Lemar, D-New Haven, House chairman of the General Law Committee, told the Courant that legislation passed this summer authorized the DCP to look at the reclassification of a series of drugs to determine if they needed to be added to the schedule of controlled substances.

“There is a lot of dangerous stuff that is for sale on Connecticut shelves,” Lemar said. “This was an attempt for the DCP to get in there and put strong regulation on the type of things they see coming in and update those regulations on a continuous basis. Rather than have legislators decide which chemical compounds needed to be regulated we decided to let the scientists and experts make that decision based upon what they are seeing.”

The DCP is planning a virtual public hearing regarding the designation of kratom as a Schedule 1 controlled substance from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

“DCP will not provide testimony or ask or answer questions during the public hearing, but will record all comments provided by the public,” said Kaitlyn Krasselt, director of communications for the DCP. “Following the public hearing, all verbal and written comments will be addressed by DCP in a “Notice of Decision” that will be posted to the eRegulations site with the proposed regulation.”

Dr. Rebecca Andrews, director of primary care at UConn Health, said seven states have either banned or listed kratom as a controlled substance citing concerns.

“Most substances that are addictive are either categorized as illicit or high risk so you need a physician with a DEA number to safely prescribe and guide you through use,” Andrews said.

“That’s the concern with this. This is both something that has harm that is over the counter so to speak and not regulated in amount, quality or quantity. This is a double whammy. It can be dangerous as a controlled substance and is over the counter and unregulated. That to me is what makes it so risky.”

Increase in kratom detox cases

Health officials at Mountainside Treatment Center’s Detox Program in Canaan, said they have seen a notable rise in kratom-related admissions.

This year alone the treatment center reported a 63.1% increase in kratom-related admissions, according to Jana Wu, licensed clinical social worker and alcohol and drug counselor at Mountainside Treatment Center, who holds a support group for those struggling with kratom and has studied the substance for years.

She said it is a substance that is difficult for people to get off of.

“A lot of people are spending time trying to get it and hiding it from loved ones,” Wu told the Courant. “It can be addictive. That doesn’t negate that it can be helpful for others. It really challenges people’s lives. I have seen people that have lost their jobs and are on the verge of divorce.”

Dr Karen Flynn, addiction psychiatrist at Mountainside Treatment Center, said the drug “can be lethal in that it can lead to serious opioid dependency,” referring to the potent component of kratom, 7-OH.

Kratom is a plant native to Southeast Asia whose leaves contain natural alkaloids- primarily mitragynine that “act as opioid receptors, producing stimulant effects at low doses and sedative or euphoric effects at higher doses,” according to Mountainside Treatment Center.

On July 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended a scheduling action to control 7-OH products under the Controlled Substances Act, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“Vape stores are popping up in every neighborhood in America, and many are selling addictive products like concentrated 7-OH. After the last wave of the opioid epidemic, we cannot get caught flat-footed again,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. in a HHS press release. “7-OH is an opioid that can be more potent than morphine. We need regulation and public education to prevent another wave of the opioid epidemic.”

Rep. Greg Howard, R-Stonington, also a detective, said he has seen people using kratom “in place of heroin in some cases.”

He said that there have also been death investigations where kratom has been involved as a component.

He said he supported the DCP proposed regulations.

“In my professional opinion it has been a problem,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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