Key Points
- San Francisco health officials announced the city’s first known fatal MGM-15 overdose on October 21, 2026, following a death in September.
- Toxicology testing identified MGM-15 in both the person who died and a product labeled Script Botanicals × Maui Labs.
- The product was marketed using the botanical name Uncaria tomentosa, commonly called Cat’s Claw, without disclosing the synthetic opioid.
- MGM-15 is chemically related to 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), but it is not ordinary Cat’s Claw or traditional kratom leaf.
- California prohibits the sale of kratom and 7-OH products for consumption, yet illegally marketed products remain a public-health concern.
- How Phoenix Rising Helps: Phoenix Rising Recovery provides medical detox, residential treatment, and ongoing addiction care in Palm Desert for individuals struggling with opioid dependence and emerging substances.
A product doesn’t need to be sold as an opioid to cause an opioid overdose. That became painfully clear in San Francisco after investigators connected a fatal September 2026 overdose to a product marketed as an herbal supplement.
The packaging identified the product as Script Botanicals × Maui Labs. Its botanical labeling suggested Cat’s Claw, a plant that has been used in traditional herbal medicine for generations. What investigators found, however, was MGM-15, a powerful chemically modified opioid compound related to kratom.
This was more than another warning about concentrated 7-OH products. It was a documented example of a synthetic opioid appearing in something that consumers could reasonably mistake for an entirely different botanical substance.
For California residents, the case raises serious questions about supplement labeling, consumer safety, and the growing number of chemically modified compounds entering the retail drug market.
What Happened With Script Botanicals in San Francisco?
On October 21, 2026, the San Francisco Department of Public Health announced that a resident had died following exposure to dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly known as MGM-15.
The death occurred in late September. According to reporting by the Los Angeles Times, the city’s medical examiner identified MGM-15 in the individual’s system and in a chewable tablet product associated with the incident.
The product was sold under the Script Botanicals × Maui Labs name and identified on its packaging as an extract of Uncaria tomentosa.
The package contained four tablets advertised as 100 milligrams each, for a total labeled product quantity of 400 milligrams. Importantly, those numbers should not be interpreted as a verified measurement of the MGM-15 concentration.
The significance of the toxicology results is that investigators confirmed an undisclosed opioid compound in the actual product examined. This was not simply speculation based on its marketing or the effects someone reported experiencing.
The finding does not establish that every product sold under the same brand name, or every manufacturing batch, had the same composition. It does establish that a product marketed as a botanical supplement was involved in a confirmed fatal opioid-related incident.
What Is Script Botanicals × Maui Labs Paradise Blend?
The product identified in reporting about the San Francisco investigation was presented as a Cat’s Claw botanical extract under Script Botanicals × Maui Labs branding.
Images released in connection with the investigation showed packaging described as Paradise Blend Berry Punch.
That description matters because consumers generally use several clues to judge what they’re purchasing: the product name, listed ingredients, appearance, dosage information, and claims printed on the package.
When a tablet is presented as a botanical extract, someone unfamiliar with synthetic kratom derivatives may have no reason to suspect that the product contains an undisclosed opioid.
The reported product labeling did not identify MGM-15 as an ingredient. It also did not identify kratom or 7-OH.
A person purchasing something advertised as Cat’s Claw could therefore be exposed to an opioid-active compound without understanding what they were taking.
Why Is MGM-15 So Dangerous?
MGM-15, also called dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine, is a chemically modified substance related to 7-OH.
While 7-OH can occur naturally in kratom in small amounts, MGM-15 is not an ordinary component of traditional Cat’s Claw supplements. It is a separate, manufactured compound with powerful activity at opioid receptors.
The concern involves several overlapping risks.
Respiratory Depression and Overdose
Opioids can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate breathing. With a sufficiently powerful opioid exposure, breathing may become dangerously slow or stop altogether.
The San Francisco fatality demonstrates that MGM-15 exposure can have life-threatening consequences.
Uncertain Product Concentrations
A consumer cannot determine how much MGM-15 a product contains from botanical branding or an unrelated weight measurement on the label.
Without reliable ingredient disclosure, even someone familiar with 7-OH cannot confidently predict the effects of a different synthetic derivative.
Dependence and Withdrawal
Repeated exposure to potent opioid-active compounds can create physical dependence. When use is reduced or stopped, withdrawal may involve sweating, anxiety, restlessness, gastrointestinal distress, insomnia, and cravings.
Human research specifically examining MGM-15 withdrawal remains limited. However, its pharmacology and the overdose reports involving the compound warrant serious clinical attention.
For a broader explanation of the substance, read Phoenix Rising Recovery’s article on MGM-15 and emerging synthetic opioids.
Genuine Cat’s Claw Is Not the Same as MGM-15
One of the most important distinctions in this case involves the actual plant.
Traditional Cat’s Claw generally refers to Uncaria tomentosa or Uncaria guianensis, woody vines native to Central and South America.
The National Institutes of Health describes these plants as traditional herbal products, although high-quality human studies supporting their claimed medical benefits are limited.
Neither the traditional name nor the botanical source makes Cat’s Claw synonymous with MGM-15.
The problem develops when a manufacturer uses recognizable botanical terminology to market a product containing a different active substance.
Phoenix Rising previously explained this distinction in its guide to Cat’s Claw and hidden opioid risks in Southern California.
The San Francisco investigation adds something that earlier warnings could not: direct forensic confirmation involving a specific commercial product and a fatal overdose.
How Does This Relate to California’s Crackdown on Kratom and 7-OH?
California has increased enforcement against kratom and concentrated 7-OH products sold for human consumption.
In January 2026, the California Department of Public Health reiterated that these products are unlawful to manufacture or sell for consumption under the state’s food and drug laws.
Officials also reported six fatal overdoses in Los Angeles County linked to highly concentrated or synthesized kratom-derived products.
The San Francisco MGM-15 death demonstrates why focusing exclusively on the term 7-OH may be insufficient.
A product may be marketed under a different botanical name while containing another opioid-active derivative.
Federal regulators have also acted. On August 26, 2026, the Drug Enforcement Administration temporarily placed MGM-15, MGM-16, and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl into Schedule I. In October, federal officials announced further regulatory steps involving those compounds and concentrated 7-OH formulations.
These actions address substances rather than simply the brand names appearing on retail packaging.
What If Someone Has Already Used Script Botanicals or a Similar Product?
Someone who has used a product marketed as Cat’s Claw, kratom-free relaxation tablets, or another concentrated botanical blend may not know exactly what they consumed.
If they are alert and not experiencing an emergency, keeping the original packaging and sharing the product information with a healthcare professional can help guide an assessment.
Signs of a possible opioid overdose include:
- Unresponsiveness or difficulty waking up
- Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
- Gurgling or choking sounds
- Blue or gray discoloration around the lips
- Extremely small pupils, although pupil appearance alone is not reliable
If an overdose is suspected, call 911 immediately and administer naloxone if available. Additional doses may be necessary, and emergency medical evaluation remains essential even if breathing improves.
For non-emergency questions about suspected poisoning or an adverse reaction, Poison Control can be reached at 1-800-222-1222.
Why Simply Switching to Another Botanical Product May Not Solve the Problem
Some people start using 7-OH or concentrated kratom products to manage pain, anxiety, or withdrawal from another opioid.
When their usual product becomes unavailable, a replacement marketed as a botanical alternative may seem attractive.
Unfortunately, a different product name does not establish that the underlying opioid exposure has ended.
Someone could stop purchasing products labeled 7-OH yet continue experiencing opioid dependence because their replacement contains MGM-15, mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, or another opioid-active compound.
For people already experiencing withdrawal, Phoenix Rising offers information about 7-OH withdrawal and detox.
The safest next step depends on the actual substances involved, severity of symptoms, and an individualized medical assessment.
Addiction Treatment for Emerging Opioids in Southern California
Phoenix Rising Recovery provides addiction treatment in Palm Desert, serving people from the Coachella Valley, Inland Empire, Los Angeles, San Diego, and other California communities.
Our medical detox program helps individuals manage substance withdrawal under clinical supervision. When additional structure is needed, residential addiction treatment provides an opportunity to address substance use patterns, mental health concerns, and the circumstances surrounding repeated use.
Someone seeking help does not need to know the molecular identity of every product they’ve consumed. Product packaging, symptoms, frequency of use, and previous withdrawal experiences are useful starting points.
If you or someone you love is struggling with kratom derivatives, 7-OH, MGM-15, or another opioid-active product, call Phoenix Rising Recovery at 866-985-1103 to discuss your treatment options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Script Botanicals contain MGM-15?
Forensic testing identified MGM-15 in the Script Botanicals × Maui Labs product examined during the San Francisco fatal overdose investigation. That finding is specific to the product tested and should not be extended automatically to every product or batch sold under the brand.
Was the product ordinary Cat’s Claw?
It was marketed using the botanical name Uncaria tomentosa, but testing confirmed an additional opioid-active compound. Traditional Cat’s Claw itself is not MGM-15.
Is MGM-15 the same as 7-OH?
No. MGM-15 is a chemically modified derivative related to 7-OH. The compounds are chemically distinct and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Can naloxone reverse an MGM-15 overdose?
Naloxone is appropriate when an opioid overdose is suspected. Administer it if available, call 911, and continue following emergency instructions because severe or prolonged respiratory depression may require additional medical treatment.
Sources and References
Angst, M. (2026, October 21). SF records first overdose death from a synthetic opioid sold at gas stations. The San Francisco Standard. https://sfstandard.com/2026/10/21/sf-records-first-overdose-death-synthetic-opioid-sold-gas-stations/
California Department of Public Health. (2026, January 16). CDPH warns retailers and public about the dangers of kratom-derived products and 7-OH. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR26-005.aspx
Garcia, K. (2026, October 22). Supplement sold at gas stations blamed for California man’s opioid overdose. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-10-22/supplement-sold-at-gas-stations-blamed-for-california-mans-opioid-overdose
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (n.d.). Cat’s claw: Usefulness and safety. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cats-claw
U.S. Department of Justice. (2026, October 9). Department of Justice announces updates to emergency scheduling actions for 7-OH and related opioid substances. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-announces-updates-emergency-scheduling-actions-7-oh-and-related-opioid
Utah Poison Control Center. (2026, October 5). Utah health officials warn of fatal overdoses involving illegal “cat’s claw” and kratom product. University of Utah Health. https://poisoncontrol.utah.edu/news/2026/10/utah-health-officials-warn-of-fatal-overdoses-involving-illegal-cats-claw-and-kratom