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In this episode of EMERGE, I sit down with my friend and colleague, Dr. Tony Pizon, Chief of Medical Toxicology at UPMC, to dive into a topic that’s been showing up more and more in our emergency departments: 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).

I wanted to understand what 7-OH is, how it’s connected to Kratom, and why it’s suddenly making headlines. Tony and I break down the science, discuss the clinical effects, and talk about why products like vapes and gummies containing 7-OH are so concerning—especially when they’re packaged to look like candy and marketed as “natural.”

We share real cases, practical management tips (including when and how to use naloxone), and highlight the risks for kids and the importance of public health reporting. My goal with this conversation is to give you the latest insights, actionable advice, and a better understanding of how to recognize and manage this emerging toxicology threat.

Whether you’re a fellow healthcare professional or just want to stay informed about what’s happening in emergency medicine, I hope you find this episode as eye-opening and useful as I did.

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Thank you for being part of the EMERGE in EM community. Until next time, stay curious, keep learning, and continue to EMERGE.