Utah warns of four deaths tied to kratom, 'cat's claw' products

Four people have died in Utah from overdoses tied to illegal chemicals hidden in herbal supplements sold at smoke shops and gas stations, state health officials warned Monday, Oct. 5.

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued an urgent public health warning identifying two semi-synthetic kratom compounds as the culprits: mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI) and dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine (MGM-15). Both act as powerful opioids, stronger than morphine, and carry severe risks of addiction, overdose and death, according to the department. The statewide warning covers products sold at smoke shops and gas stations, including those in Millcreek. No Millcreek-specific deaths have been confirmed.

What to avoid

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) found MGPI and MGM-15 in products sold under brand names like "Buzzers." Labels often list "cat's claw" or its scientific name, Uncaria tomentosa. Natural cat's claw is not harmful. The tested products are not.

The Utah Poison Control Center (UPCC) urged the public to stay away from any product labeled "cat's claw," anything marked "adults only/21+" and any non-prescription item marketed as legal while promising a psychoactive high. Labels on these products often claim they are kratom-free and legal, the department said, even though they contain illegal compounds.

How to spot and treat an overdose

Because MGPI and MGM-15 bind to opioid receptors, the overdose-reversal drug naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan, is effective against them, DHHS said. Standard opioid-dependence treatments also work for people struggling with addiction to these substances, the department said. Anyone experiencing withdrawal should seek immediate medical attention.

The UPCC is available around the clock at 1-800-222-1222 for free, confidential guidance on treatment or potential overdose.

Legal backdrop

Utah banned the sale of kratom extracts and semi-synthetic kratom products on May 6 under S.B. 45, the Kratom Adjustments bill passed during the 2026 legislative session. Only pure, natural leaf kratom may be sold legally, and only by retailers registered as a Retail Tobacco Specialty Business.

"These changes to the kratom law are significant, but necessary to keep the public safe," UDAF Commissioner Kelly Pehrson said in a May 11 statement after the law took effect, according to the agency.

In July, DHHS issued a narrower warning about Buzzers-brand tablets specifically. Monday's alert is broader, ABC4 reported, covering a wider range of products and brands.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) placed MGPI, MGM-15 and a related compound on its Schedule I list on Aug. 27, the same federal category as heroin, the Missouri Independent reported. That order is temporary, lasting two years.