San Francisco reports first death from kratom-derived opioid MGM-15

San Francisco health officials have confirmed the city's first fatal overdose involving MGM-15, a potent synthetic opioid derived from kratom, according to the San Francisco Standard. The drug, sold in gas stations and smoke shops under the brand Script Botanicals x Maui Labs, is estimated to be up to 50 times stronger than morphine.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health reported that the victim's system and the packaging of the consumed supplement contained MGM-15. The product packaging does not disclose the presence of kratom or its derivative 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), raising concerns about consumer awareness.

This death, which occurred in late September, marks the second time this year that San Francisco has sounded the alarm over new synthetic opioids. Earlier in the year, the city reported another overdose death linked to a different synthetic opioid.

The San Francisco Department of Health has issued a health alert regarding MGM-15, emphasizing that the semi-synthetic opioid is not approved for medical use and that ingesting too much can result in a fatal overdose, KRON4 reported.