Kratom faces renewed scrutiny as Florida law enforcement pushes for restrictions

Kratom, a plant-based substance with opioid-like effects, is legal in Florida and can be purchased over the counter at gas stations, smoke shops and other retailers.But law enforcement officials and medical professionals are raising concerns about the drug, including more potent forms that have been linked to deadly overdoses.For Edward Valykeo, the issue is personal.Valykeo remembers calling 911 from his Williston home after his longtime girlfriend and the mother of his 12-year-old daughter, 43-year-old Kristie Dijak, was found unresponsive.Paramedics pronounced her dead.Valykeo said her cause of death was a kratom 7-OH overdose. 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly known as 7-OH, is a more potent compound associated with kratom. It is currently outlawed in Florida.“Seeing my daughter struggle with this. It just tears me up daily,” Valykeo said.Rehabilitation medicine physician Charles Smith described kratom as “gas station heroin” because of where the substance is commonly sold.Smith also