Kitsap Health Officer Warns on Kratom, Shellfish Toxin

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  Kitsap Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Herbie Duber issued a July update“Hello and welcome to my July Health Officer Update. This month, I will focus on health risks from concentrated kratom products, lethal levels of paralytic shellfish poison in Hood Canal, and updates from the Ebola outbreak in Africa.”
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  Dr. Herbie Duber warned of rising health risks from concentrated kratom products“Kratom & 7-OHKratom products in flashy packaging are popping up in many local stores. It’s important to understand what these products are and how they could affect your health.Kratom is a plant found in southeast Asia that has been used for a very long time in traditional medicine – particularly in Indonesia. In low doses, Kratom can act as a stimulant. In high doses, it can act as a sedative.One compound that occurs in small amounts naturally in the kratom leaf is 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly called 7-OH.7-OH products are sold in just about every convenience store that you can find. When 7-OH is concentrated into products like gummies, pills, tonics, and vapes, it is significantly stronger – and more dangerous – than the kratom leaf itself.7-OH effects our bodies in the same way as opioids like heroin and fentanyl. Too much 7-OH can stop your breathing. Like other opioids, 7-OH effects can be reversed with naloxone (Narcan).From 2015 to 2025, reports of exposure to kratom increased by 1,200%, reaching record levels in 2025.Increases in Kratom-Related Reports to Poison Centers — National Poison Data System, United States, 2015–2025Serious health problems, including hospitalizations related to concentrated kratom products, are also on the rise. While deaths remain rare, there has been an increase in deaths among people using 7-OH products.A colleague of mine recently treated a young man whose heart had stopped beating after trying to use 7-OH to relieve pain from a dental surgery. This is just one medical case out of many that has happened in Washington state from these products.”
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  Dr. Herbie Duber warned of rising health risks from lethal paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) in Hood Canal“I want to remind everyone that the Hood Canal remains closed to shellfish harvesting due to tests showing lethal levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).”
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  Dr. Duber reported a 1,200% increase in kratom-related poison center reports from 2015 to 2025“From 2015 to 2025, reports of exposure to kratom increased by 1,200%, reaching record levels in 2025.”
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  Concentrated 7-OH products cause hospitalizations and rare deaths“Serious health problems, including hospitalizations related to concentrated kratom products, are also on the rise. While deaths remain rare, there has been an increase in deaths among people using 7-OH products.”
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  Washington state does not regulate kratom“As of January 2026, 30 states regulate kratom. Washington state does not.”
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  30 states regulate kratom“As of January 2026, 30 states regulate kratom.”
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  The DEA plans to classify high 7-OH as a Schedule I drug“Fortunately, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) plans to classify high amounts of 7-OH as a Schedule I Drug. This is a huge step forward.”
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  Hood Canal remains closed to shellfish harvesting due to lethal PSP levels“The Hood Canal remains closed to shellfish harvesting due to tests showing lethal levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).”
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  Hood Canal has lethal PSP levels“the Hood Canal remains closed to shellfish harvesting due to tests showing lethal levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).”
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  Symptoms of PSP include numbness, breathing problems, and paralysis within 30 minutes“Common symptoms of PSP include numbness or tingling. In severe cases, PSP can cause breathing problems and paralysis. People have died from PSP in as little as 30 minutes.”