San Francisco public health officials plan to release the city’s latest data on accidental overdoses on Friday and also discuss a recent death linked to the kratom-derived opioid MGM-15.
On Wednesday, the city’s Department of Public Health issued an alert to warn health care providers and the public about MGM-15, which caused a fatal overdose last month in San Francisco.
A semi-synthetic kratom-derived opioid, MGM-15 isn’t approved for medical use and ingesting too much can result in death.
In the first-known case in San Francisco, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner detected MGM-15 in an adult who died of an overdose in late September. The drug had previously been identified in overdoses in Utah and Washington.
Although it was recently designated as a Schedule 1 substance by the Drug Enforcement Agency and is illegal for sale, MGM-15 has been found in products marketed as “uncaria tomentosa” or “cat’s claw” sold in smoke shops and gas stations, health officials said.
The health department released photos showing packaging of the product that was consumed by the person who died of an overdose.
Director of Health Daniel Tsai and Director of Behavioral Health and Mental Health Hillary Kunins will hold a media availability at noon Friday to announce data on accidental overdose and discuss the health department’s recent alert about MGM-15.
Health officials recommend administering naloxone to anyone who appears to be overdosing and calling 911.
Free naloxone is available at the SFDPH Behavioral Health Services Pharmacy at 1380 Howard Street, open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Naloxone, also known under the brand name Narcan, is also available in most retail pharmacies.