Health officials urging vaccinations as infections mount

Sometimes known as "legal morphine at the gas station," it's potentially addictive

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• Federal health officials plan action against 7-OH, a powerful kratom-derived compound in tablets and drinkable shots.

• The FDA says 7-OH products may pose risks including sedation, respiratory issues, and addiction.

• Industry divides over safety and regulation, with some calling the substance legal morphine at the gas station.

Federal health officials are preparing to announce new enforcement measures aimed at curbing the rise of a potent and controversial compound found in popular kratom-derived products sold in convenience stores and gas stations across the U.S.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said it is focusing on 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, a highly concentrated substance synthesized from a compound in the kratom leaf, the Washington Post reported. While the natural plantnative to Southeast Asiais used in teas and powders and is touted by advocates as a mild stimulant and opioid alternative, 7-OH products are far more potent and have raised alarm among regulators, researchers, and even some kratom industry groups.

These arent plant extractstheyre essentially legal morphine being sold over the counter, said Christopher McCurdy, a professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Florida.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently sent warning letters to seven companies it accuses of illegally marketing 7-OH products as dietary supplements or unapproved drugs. These companies allegedly promoted the substances as treatments for pain or anxiety without the necessary safety approvals.

The FDA has warned that use of 7-OH can lead to side effects including nausea, sedation, breathing problems, and addiction.

A press conference scheduled for Tuesday will include remarks from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and kratom advocate Melody Woolf. The inclusion of a plant-product proponent suggests the crackdown may target only the synthetic or enhanced forms of kratomnot the natural leaf or tea preparations.

What it is

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical evergreen tree in the coffee family. It is native to Southeast Asia and has been used for centuries for its stimulant and pain-relieving properties. The trees leaves contain alkaloid compounds, primarily mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), which interact with opioid receptors in the brain to produce a range of effects depending on the dose.

• At low doses, kratom typically acts as a stimulant, increasing energy, alertness, and sociability.

• At higher doses, it can have sedative and analgesic (pain-relieving) effects, mimicking those of opioids, though generally with less potency.

Itis indigenous to Southeast Asia, where it has a long cultural history as a natural remedy. It has become increasingly popular in the U.S. as an alternative to prescription opioids, to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms and for relieffrom anxiety, depression, or chronic pain.

Supporters argue it is a safer, natural alternative to opioids. But critics and regulators warn about the risks of dependence, unregulated products, and the emergence of potent semi-synthetic kratom derivatives, such as 7-OH extracts, which can be far more dangerous than the natural plant.

Mounting concerns

Kratom has long been a point of contention in Americas drug policy landscape. While some praise its use in easing chronic pain or managing opioid withdrawal, others warn of its psychoactive effects and potential for abuse.

The American Kratom Association (AKA), a trade group representing plant-based kratom producers, has distanced itself from companies selling concentrated 7-OH products. The group accuses 7-OH sellers of distorting kratoms public image by promoting chemically manipulated versions of the plant.

But others in the industry argue that 7-OH offers a safer and more effective alternative to opioids. Jeff Smith of the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust dismissed the criticism as part of an intra-industry turf war, and said the group supports reasonable safeguards like third-party lab testing, warning labels, and age restrictions.

Researchers find that Americans living near oceans may live longer than those living by rivers or lakes

• Coastal proximity (within ~30miles of oceans or gulfs) is associated with about a year longer life compared to the U.S. average of roughly 79 years.

• Living near large inland waters in urban areas shows a slight lifespan decrease, while rural proximity to inland waters may actually increase life expectancy.

• Factors like milder temperatures, cleaner air, recreation access, better transport, less drought risk, and higher income likely help explain the coastal advantage.

Could where you live by the water affect how long you live?

A new U.S. study by researchers at Ohio State University suggests yes but with an interesting twist.

Proximity to coastal waters seems to be linked to longer life expectancy, while living near inland lakes or rivers tells a more mixed story.

Overall, the coastal residents were expected to live a year or more longer than the 79-year average, and those who lived in more urban areas near inland rivers and lakes were likely to die by about 78 or so. The coastal residents probably live longer due to a variety of intertwined factors, lead researcher Jianyong Jamie Wu said in a news release.

The study

Researchers analyzed data from 66,263 U.S. census tracts, using life expectancy numbers from the CDCs SmallArea Life Expectancy Estimates Project.

They compared those who lived within about 30miles of an ocean or gulf and those near inland water bodies larger than roughly 4 square miles. The study used multiple statistical models to account for differences across states and regions.

They also ran sensitivity checks and a mutual information model to identify key environmental and socioeconomic factors distinguishing coastal from inland areas.

The results

The researchers broke down the findings between coastal dwellers and inland residents. Heres a look at the results:

• Coastal areas: Living near coasts correlated with a lifespan about one year longer than the average (~79 years), even after adjustments for other variables.

• Inland waters: Urban residents near large lakes/rivers showed a modest decrease in life expectancy (to around age 78), possibly tied to environmental challenges like pollution and flood risks. In contrast, rural residents near inland water fared slightly better than urban counterparts, with a modest lifespan benefit.
  

We thought it was possible that any type of blue space would offer some beneficial effects, and we were surprised to find such a significant and clear difference between those who live near coastal waters and those who live near inland waters, said Wu.

We found a clear difference in coastal areas, people are living longer.

The researchers stress these findings dont prove causation and note limitations like not tracking quality or usage of the water itself. But the results do open a valuable conversation about how built and natural environments shape health, inviting planners and policymakers to think carefully about where and how blue spaces fit into healthier communities.

A new study explores how consistent sleep routines not just hours could shape your longterm health

• A large study of 88,461 UK adults linked six objective sleep traits including bedtime regularity with 172 diseases.
  

• Sleeptiming consistency and rhythm stability had stronger ties to disease risk than just sleep duration.
  

• Irregular bedtimes doubled or tripled risk for certain conditions like liver cirrhosis and gangrene.
  

Most of us think of good sleep as simply getting enough hours every night.

However, recent research flips that idea on its head: its not only how long you sleep but when and how regularly.

An international analysis used real, measurable sleep data to uncover surprising links between sleep patterns and a wide range of diseases bringing bedtime consistency into the health spotlight.

Our findings underscore the overlooked importance of sleep regularity, researcher Prof. Shengfeng Wang said in a news release. Its time we broaden our definition of good sleep beyond just duration.

The study

For the study, researchers tapped into data from the U.K. Biobank. More than 88,000 adults wore wrist-based trackers for an average of 6.8 years.

This allowed objective measurement of six sleep traits: total sleep duration, sleep timing (bedtime), relative amplitude, interdaily stability (consistency day-to-day), sleep efficiency, and number of times waking up.

They then ran a phenomewide association study, which means they analyzed links between those sleep traits and hundreds of diagnoses across body systems. That way, rather than guessing, they looked at real-world health outcomes tied to actual behavior.

The results

The headline finding: 172 diseases showed statistically significant associations with at least one sleep trait. For many, sleep patterns accounted for an average of 23% of risk burden in that category.

Irregular bedtimes after 12:30a.m. doubled the odds of liver cirrhosis (2.57), while unstable day-to-day sleep rhythm increased gangrene risk by about 2.6.

Interestingly, the old warning about long sleep ( nine hours) being bad for you didnt hold up under objective scrutiny. Many people who reported long sleep were actually sleeping less than six hours meaning time in bed was often mistaken for rest.

The researchers suggest that these findings are biologically plausible irregular sleep may disrupt circadian rhythms and inflammation pathways. They also replicated key associations in U.S. cohorts, reinforcing generalizability.

Corporations being forgiven without any due process or transparency, groups charge

• $120 million in redress returned to companies that broke the law

• Hundreds of millions more in restitution stalled or at risk

• Watchdog groups accuse CFPB of abandoning enforcement and transparency

More than $360 million in compensation owed to Americans harmed by illegal financial practices is at risk due to actions taken by the Trump-appointed leadership of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), according to a new investigation by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and the Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC).

The investigation reveals that over $120 million in redress has already been clawed back from victims and returned to the same corporations found to have broken the law. Additionally, hundreds of millions more remain in limbo or face cancellation as the CFPB under acting director Russell Vought has rolled back enforcement and reduced transparency.

Corporate pardons and dropped cases

The CFPB, once seen as a bulwark against financial abuse, has seen a dramatic shift under the Trump administrations influence. The agency has dropped at least 22 pending enforcement cases this year, including several involving significant harm to military service members, student borrowers, and auto loan holders.

In case after case, the Trump CFPB has taken the side of Wall Street over working families, said Eric Halperin, senior fellow at CFA. The agencys job is to protect Americansnot to offer a laundry list of corporate pardons.

Among the findings: in three separate enforcement cases, the CFPB withdrew from settlements that would have delivered more than $120 million in redress to affected consumers. In each of those cases, the companies were explicitly relieved of any obligation to pay restitution. In a fourth case, the financial penalty was dramatically reduced with little explanation.

Redress in limbo: CashApp, Navient, Honda

The fate of hundreds of millions more in consumer restitution remains uncertain. Investigators highlight at least three major enforcement actions where large payouts have either stalled or face derailment:

• CashApp (Block Inc.): As much as $120 million in consumer refunds are owed but remain unpaid.

• Navient: Over $100 million in redress for student loan borrowers appears stuck in administrative purgatory.

• American Honda Finance: More than $10 million in relief has yet to reach harmed auto loan customers.

All of these enforcement actions were finalized in 2024 but are now at risk due to the CFPBs abrupt policy shifts under Voughts leadership.

When Americans got ripped off by big banks and other financial companies, they could count on the CFPB to take actionuntil now, said Allison Preiss of the SBPC. Today, Wall Street wrongdoers are being richly rewarded while regular Americans are left empty-handed.

A Transparency Breakdown

The CFA-SBPC report also slams the CFPB for abandoning long-standing transparency practices. Since 2011, the agency has published quarterly reports detailing enforcement activity, penalties collected, and disbursement of funds to victims. Those reports have traditionally been posted within three months of each fiscal quarter.

But since January 5, 2025, the CFPB has failed to publish a single report, breaking with more than a decade of precedent. Watchdogs say this lack of transparency makes it harder for consumers and policymakers to track whether restitution is being deliveredor quietly abandoned.

This isnt just about policy differences, said Halperin. Its about basic accountability and honoring the promises made to Americans whove already been harmed.