San Francisco Reports First Death Linked to Kratom Opioid MGM-15

San Francisco health officials have issued a warning following the city's first reported death linked to MGM-15, a potent opioid derived from kratom. The San Francisco Department of Health stated in a news release that ingesting too much MGM-15 can result in a fatal opioid overdose. The city's chief medical examiner detected the drug in an adult who died in late September.

MGM-15 is classified as a Schedule 1 substance, making its sale illegal. It has been found in products marketed as "uncaria tomentosa" or "cat’s claw," commonly sold in smoke shops and gas stations. The packaging of the specific product linked to the fatality was branded "Script botanicals x Maui labs" and advertised a "berry punch" flavor, according to photos released by the health department. This branding differs from MGM-15 products previously identified in Utah and Washington.

Kratom, often referred to as "gas station heroin," is frequently used for pain relief and to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms. However, the Food and Drug Administration has cautioned that kratom and its concentrated derivative, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), are unapproved and carry significant risks, including seizures and substance use disorder.

In parallel with the health alert, San Francisco police have conducted operations targeting smoke shops suspected of selling kratom and other illicit substances. In recent weeks, officers served warrants at multiple smoke shops, confiscating kratom products, psilocybin, flavored tobacco, drug paraphernalia, and nitrous oxide. Some shops were found to possess hundreds of illegal items, which were openly displayed and priced.

Police identified two specific locations targeted in the operation: one on Haight Street and another on Geary Boulevard. The latter establishment apparently lacked a license to sell tobacco products. Authorities are collaborating with the City Attorney’s Office on these investigations. San Francisco has faced significant challenges with drug-related issues, with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously placing the city second among those with the highest number of fatal drug overdoses.