"Rise in Gas Station Opioids Tied to Increased Deaths in California"

The rise of the opioid 7-Hydroxymitragynine in California has been linked to six deaths in Los Angeles County, intensifying concerns over drug overdoses and public health safety.

• The Los Angeles Department of Public Health confirmed three additional deaths linked to 7-Hydroxymitragynine, raising the total to six deaths attributed to this opioid in Los Angeles County, California.
• 7-Hydroxymitragynine, derived from the plant Mitragyna speciosa through chemical synthesis, is increasingly available at convenience stores, raising alarms about its potential for drug overdose.
• Public health officials are sounding the alarm about the risks of 7-Hydroxymitragynine as part of a broader crisis involving opioids and the prohibition of drugs that may not effectively address this growing issue.