A 37-year-old California man has died after consuming a dietary supplement easily purchased at gas stations and online, following the discovery of a synthetic opioid in the product that triggered urgent public health warnings.
Fatal Overdose Linked to ‘Cat’s Claw’ Supplement
According to an autopsy report obtained by the Los Angeles Times, the man died from a drug overdose in late September after taking the supplement. His cause of death was ruled an accidental fatality resulting from the toxic effects of kratom alkaloids.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) identified the problematic product as part of the ‘Script Botanicals x Maui Labs’ brand. Marketed as a supplement containing the plant extract ‘cat’s claw,’ the product actually contained ‘MGM-15,’ a potent semi-synthetic opioid.
Dangerous Synthetic Opioids Found in Herbal Products
MGM-15 is a chemical modification of ‘7-OH,’ a minor constituent found naturally in kratom, an evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. While kratom is known for its stimulant and energy-boosting effects, it lacks approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for medical use.
Compounds like MGM-15 are known to be far more potent than standard kratom components. Health authorities warned that this substance can cause severe addiction and respiratory depression.
In August, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the classification of three opioid compounds, including MGM-15, as Schedule I controlled substances. Schedule I drugs are defined as substances with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical value.
Widespread Fatalities Across Multiple States
Similar fatal incidents have been reported in other states. The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food previously stated that MGM-15 and related opioid compounds were linked to four deaths statewide. In Washington state, four deaths have also been confirmed in connection with products containing the same ingredient.
These products were similarly marketed under the names ‘cat’s claw’ or its scientific name, Uncaria tomentosa, and were distributed online, in gas stations, and at smoke shops.
Some product packaging featured phrases such as ‘kratom-free’ or ‘legal product,’ alongside warnings reading ‘adults 21 and older only’ or alerts regarding powerful psychoactive effects.
Last year, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health noted that kratom and 7-OH were linked to six deaths, prompting the local government to issue sales bans on related products.
Health authorities are urging consumers to exercise extreme caution, noting that products promoted as natural herbal supplements may still contain powerful semi-synthetic opioid analogs.
Meanwhile, cat’s claw is a woody vine native to the Amazon rainforest and Central and South America. While indigenous peoples have used it for centuries for medicinal purposes, and it has been marketed as a remedy for arthritis and cancer, health authorities emphasize there is no conclusive scientific evidence to support these health claims.
