In the evolving landscape of drug abuse and amidst the unending search for new legal highs, the rise of so-called “gas station heroin” is raising serious concern. Among them is OPiA kratom, a potent product marketed as a natural way to relax or escape—but with effects that mirror those of opioids. Sold in convenience stores and smoke shops, drugs like OPiA are marketed by shadowy companies exploiting legal loopholes, with clever branding that hints at their effects without giving the game away.
This particular drug comes in the form of chewable tablets and liquid shots and contains 7-hydroxymitragynine, an alkaloid far stronger than traditional kratom. However, a casual perusal of scientific and anecdotal reports shows these products are intended to lure users into a dangerous cycle of dependence and withdrawal. This article explores what makes drugs like OPiA kratom so risky and how people struggling with the effects can find a way out.
What is Kratom?
Kratom is a drug that stems from the kratom plant of Southeast Asia. The leaves of the kratom plant contain compounds that induce euphoria, pain relief, and other psychoactive effects reminiscent of opiates.
This has made kratom both attractive and controversial, especially as enhanced versions and extracts have emerged on the U.S. market. Though it is often marketed as a “natural” alternative for managing pain or mood, kratom use carries serious risks, including addiction, withdrawal symptoms, and physical dependence, particularly with potent forms like OPiA.
Roughly nine years ago, the FDA attempted to designate kratom a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, but backed off due to pressure from kratom industry lobbyists. Despite this, the FDA warns against using kratom. On the state level, six U.S. states have enacted outright bans on kratom: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, as well as Washington D.C.
Is Kratom Legal in California?
Kratom brands such as OPiA are currently legal in California, though there are currently ongoing discussions in the California legislature to register the drug with the state public health department and regulate its potency.
There are also some cities that ban it, including San Diego, Oceanside, Jarupa Valley, and Newport Beach. This means most Californians can legally buy and use kratom—whether online or in stores—but those living in or traveling through the aforementioned cities should be aware that possession or sale there is illegal.
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Call 866-881-1184OPiA Kratom and The Rise of Gas Station Drugs
OPiA is sold in two forms: chewable kratom tablets and liquid shots. The brand itself is somewhat mysterious, the OPiA kratom website providing little to go on regarding who is behind the product. But while its origin may be in doubt, the not-so–subtle marketing hints strongly at the nature of the drug. The name itself appears to be a thinly veiled reference to opiates, and on the website, readers are invited to “float away and find your inner calm.”
In other words, this is a form of gas station heroin. Gas station drugs in general, have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. Vapes figure most prominently here, as well as “weed gummies,” but drugs such as OPiA kratom, tianeptine (ex: ZaZa pills) and others have also been on the rise.
These drugs exist in a legal grey zone – sometimes regulated, sometimes not – and are bought by people seeking legal highs without the risk. But there are no truly risk-free drugs, and this is no exception.
What is OPiA 7-hydroxymitragynine?
The active ingredient behind OPiA kratom tablets and liquid shots is an alkaloid called 7-hydroxymitragynine. 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH or 7-HMG) is a derivative of mitragynine, a naturally occurring alkaloid found in the Mitragyna speciosa kratom plant. It’s one of the plant’s most potent active compounds and makes for a much more addictive drug than even traditional kratom – one study in Nature found 7-OH “…exhibits 40-fold greater potency than mitragynine…” It is this compound that is what is largely responsible for the opioid-like effects associated with kratom use.
We know OPiA kratom aims to simulate heroin and other opioid drugs because it binds to the mu-opioid receptors in the brain.
When activated, these receptors produce effects such as:
- Pain relief
- Euphoria
- Reduced anxiety
- Sedation
This alkaloid is extremely potent. According to one study, 7-hydroxymitragynine is thirteen times more potent than morphine. Gas station kratom can cause mood swings, irritability, cravings, and opioid-like withdrawal symptoms. It can also lead to physical dependence. The FDA has issued warnings about kratom’s opioid-like risks, especially with enhanced products.
Why Gas Station Pills Can Be Risky
As mentioned earlier, gas station drugs like OPiA kratom exist in a legal and regulatory grey zone. While some states and municipalities have banned kratom, most have not, and in California, aside from a few municipalities, kratom is totally unregulated – there aren’t even age restrictions on the product, according to California Assemblyman Matt Haney. This means there is no legal guarantee surrounding these drugs’ potency or purity.
And because gas station pills like kratom or tianeptine (another form of gas-station heroin) are designed to mimic opioids, just like their illegal counterparts, they can lead to dependence, withdrawal, and addiction.
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Gas station kratom, such as OPiA 7-OH tablets, typically contains concentrated doses of kratom alkaloids—primarily mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. While marketed as a legal high or energy booster, 7-OH tablets can produce opioid-like effects such as:
- Euphoria or mild stimulation at low doses
- Sedation, pain relief, and calmness at higher doses
- Nausea or vomiting, especially in new users
- Itching, dizziness, and sweating
- Impaired coordination or judgment, increasing the risk of accidents
- Constipation (a common side effect of opioid-like substances)
Some gas station heroin users report feeling mentally “foggy,” emotionally numb, or dissociated, especially when taking strong or multiple doses.
While a somewhat new drug, studies so far on 7-OH tablets have found many safety issues. In the long run, these include:
- Dependence and addiction — The body can become reliant on kratom to function, leading to withdrawal symptoms like irritability, muscle aches, insomnia, and depression when use stops.
- Liver toxicity — Long-term use of kratom has been linked to liver injury in some cases.
- Hormonal imbalance — Extended use may disrupt endocrine function, potentially affecting libido, metabolism, or mood regulation.
- Anxiety, agitation, or paranoia — Some users of gas station kratom develop mental health symptoms, particularly with high doses or polydrug use.
- Tolerance and escalating use — Over time, the desired effects diminish, prompting higher and more frequent doses, often leading to financial, social, or health-related consequences.
According to current scientific information, the risk of death due to kratom is much lower than more traditional opioids, primarily because it does not cause respiratory depression. However, kratom overdose deaths have been reported, both in the news and on sites like Reddit.
Recognizing Kratom Withdrawal and When to Seek Help
Although OPiA Kratom tablets and shots are sold legally in many areas, they can still cause physical dependence, especially with frequent or high-dose use.
Because the drug is so new, the studies specifically focusing on OPiA withdrawal symptoms are lacking. However, the drug acts on the mu-opioid receptors, it is reasonable to expect them to mimic traditional opioid withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms often resemble those of traditional opioids and can begin within 12–24 hours after the last dose.
Common gas station kratom withdrawal symptoms may include:
- Muscle aches and body pain
- Insomnia or restlessness
- Sweating and chills
- Anxiety, depression, or irritability
- Cravings for more kratom
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Dilated pupils and teary eyes
Symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on the duration of use and the amount typically consumed.
Treatment & Recovery from OPiA Kratom Use
While OPiA kratom is marketed as a legal and natural high, its risks are anything but mild. The presence of ultra-potent compounds like 7-hydroxymitragynine makes it functionally closer to an opioid – gas station heroin – than a harmless herbal supplement. As it mimics opiate drugs (right down to the name), treatment will likely follow guidelines for treating opioid addiction. This will likely start with medical detox in Orange County, followed by inpatient treatment.
If you or someone you know is experiencing withdrawal, cravings, or other symptoms from kratom use or other gas station drugs, South Coast Behavioral Health is an Orange County drug and alcohol rehab center. Our specialists can provide the expert care you need to break the grip of OPiA pills or other gas station drugs. Reach out to us any time, day or night, for a free and confidential call with one of our specialists.
- The Controlled Substances Act
- FDA and Kratom | FDA
- California weighs regulations on herbal substance kratom – Los Angeles Times
- OPIA 7-Hydroxymitragynine Kratom – OPiA Kratom
- Frontiers | The Chemical and Pharmacological Properties of Mitragynine and Its Diastereomers: An Insight Review
- Mitragyna speciosa: Balancing Potential Medical Benefits and Abuse – PMC
- FDA calls kratom an ‘opioid’ and warns against using the supplement
- California Wants to Regulate New Drug Being Sold Across the State | Official Website – Assemblymember Matt Haney Representing the 17th California Assembly District
- Kratom – LiverTox – NCBI Bookshelf
- Risk of death associated with kratom use compared to opioids – ScienceDirect
- Part 3: Kratom’s path across the US is marked by deception and secrets | USC Center for Health Journalism
- Kratom killed my brother. : r/TrueOffMyChest
- Assessment of Kratom Use Disorder and Withdrawal among an Online Convenience Sample of US Adults – Johns Hopkins University
