Full Breakdown
Utah Issues Urgent Warning After Four Deaths Linked to Semi-Synthetic Kratom Compounds in “Cat’s Claw” Supplements
By Drooid · · How we work
Fatalities Tied to Illegal Kratom Derivatives
State health officials announced that four Utah residents died after consuming herbal supplements that were marketed as “cat’s claw” but contained the semi-synthetic kratom-derived opioids mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI) and dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine (MGM-15). The substances are classified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as Schedule I controlled substances and are illegal to sell in Utah. The warning, issued on Monday, urged the public to avoid any product labeled “cat’s claw,” marked “adults only/21+,” or advertised as a legal psychoactive supplement.
Regulatory Background
Kratom, a plant-derived substance used for pain relief and opioid-withdrawal support, is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration and is banned in at least ten states. In August, the DEA temporarily placed MGPI and MGM-15 on the Schedule I list. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) notes that only pure, natural-leaf kratom products may be sold legally; any product containing extracts or semi-synthetic derivatives is prohibited. Similar warnings have been issued by Tennessee and Virginia after their poison centers reported opioid-like effects from cat’s claw products containing MGM-15.
Key Data
- Deaths: Four Utah residents linked to MGPI and MGM-15 exposure.
- Compounds identified: MGPI and MGM-15, both potent opioids stronger than morphine.
- Legal status: Classified as Schedule I controlled substances (August 2024).
- National kratom-related mortality: CDC reports 233 deaths linked to kratom from 2015-2025.
- Other incidents: Tennessee medical examiner’s office found kratom chemicals in the death of producer Tay Keith; a Florida wrongful-death suit awarded $11 million for “acute mitragynine intoxication”; Mississippi investigators are probing two student deaths involving packaged kratom.
Official Statements & Responses
- Utah DHHS released an “urgent public health warning,” emphasizing that the illegal chemicals act on opioid receptors and that naloxone (Narcan) can reverse overdoses. The department provided a 24/7 hotline (1-800-222-1222) for overdose assistance and urged reports of illegal sales to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) at udaf-kratom@utah.com.
- Utah Poison Control Center advised residents not to purchase or use any “cat’s claw” products, noting the misleading labeling that claims legality while warning of strong psychoactive effects.
Verbatim Quotes
- “These cat’s claw products contain dangerous opioids derived from kratom,” — Dr. Michael Moss, the medical director of the Utah Poison Control Center
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The Utah health warning does not directly link the “Buzzers” brand to the four deaths, despite the products being mentioned in the investigation. Additionally, while the CDC’s national kratom death count spans 2015-2025, the Utah cases involve semi-synthetic derivatives newly classified as Schedule I, leaving uncertainty about how many past deaths may have involved similar compounds. No detailed toxicology reports for the Utah fatalities have been released, creating a gap in confirming the exact role of MGPI and MGM-15 in each case.