Walking into a gas station in the past handful of years, you might have noticed a new product on the shelves: pills, powders, gummies, or energy shots containing “pure kratom alkaloids.” But what is kratom? And what is the new substance (7-hydroxymitragynine) that the FDA is concerned about? This week on Health Wanted host Laurel Bristow dives into the rise of 7-OH, the substance being dubbed the “next opioid crisis.”

Then, she is joined by guest Oliver Grundmann, PhD, to explore whether these products are a harm-reduction tool or a danger to public health. 

In the Q&A, Bristow gives an update on COVID vaccine approvals, breaks down a recent report linking Tylenol and folate to autism, and yet another deep dive into COVID transmission takes the “Sick of the Week.”

For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the Show Notes.

Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

For more, visit wabe.org/healthwanted