A Missouri family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging a Kansas City-area convenience store’s kratom product caused their brother’s fatal overdose. Even though Missouri has many options to battle all kinds of addictions, many people continue to succumb to new and unregulated substances. The tragedy adds to a growing number of cases raising concerns about kratom addiction in the region.
A Death in Kansas City
The brother of Joshua Bradley filed the lawsuit on behalf of the family on July 13 in Jackson County Circuit Court. The petition alleges Bradley died on March 8 from the toxic effects of 7-OH, a compound derived from kratom, after making repeated purchases from Bear Stop Convenience and other unnamed convenience stores and manufacturers between 2025 and 2026.
The suit names a specific product, SEDA 7-Hydroxy Blend Grape Crush with the ad slogan “sink into serenity” on its packaging. The family’s attorney argues the packaging and marketing gave consumers no reason to believe the product could cause addiction, a prolonged withdrawal, or death. The lawsuit alleges convenience store owners knew or should’ve known the harm 7-OH could cause and failed to warn customers about its addictive potential.
This is the second Kansas City-area wrongful death suit tied to kratom products in recent months. A similar case was filed in March over the death of David Thacker, who died in May 2025 from kratom intoxication. Court records showed Thacker’s blood contained 1,400 nanograms per milliliter of mitragynine when he died.
Kratom Addiction and 7-OH
Kratom comes from a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, and its leaves contain compounds that interact with the brain’s opioid receptors. Two of them, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), are behind most of the drug’s effects and its addiction potential. According to the lawsuit, 7-OH is 13x more potent than morphine and can convert in the body into a compound 100x more powerful than mitragynine.
Signs of kratom addiction can include withdrawal symptoms that resemble those of other opioids, along with tolerance, cravings and continued use despite negative consequences. The lawsuit cites documented health risks associated with 7-OH, including respiratory depression, seizures, psychosis, hallucinations and severe withdrawal.
The Food and Drug Administration has never approved kratom or 7-OH for any medical use and has described 7-OH as an emerging opioid threat.
A Regulatory Patchwork in the Region
The Bradley and Thacker cases unfold against a shifting regulatory backdrop in the Kansas City metro area. Kansas City has banned synthetic kratom products and set an age limit on natural kratom products. The State of Kansas banned kratom and 7-OH sales entirely in July 2026. Missouri lawmakers considered a statewide kratom ban during the most recent legislative session, but the bill didn’t pass, leaving consumers in a different legal position than their neighbors across the state line.
In July 2025, the FDA recommended that the DEA add concentrated 7-OH products to the federal list of controlled substances. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services separately recommended scheduling 7-OH as a Schedule I narcotic due to its abuse potential. Neither recommendation has resulted in a final federal scheduling decision as of yet.
Recognizing Kratom Addiction in a Loved One
Since kratom and 7-OH products are often sold in unmarked bags, gas station displays or packaging that emphasizes relaxation rather than risk, family members may not immediately recognize the substance behind a loved one’s changing behavior.
Warning signs can include frequent trips to convenience stores or smoke shops, withdrawal symptoms when the person stops using, mood changes and physical symptoms such as nausea or tremors between uses. Should a loved one show one or more of these signs, consider looking into kratom addiction treatment programs.
Addiction Treatment in Missouri and Beyond
Anyone concerned about their own kratom use, or a loved one’s, shouldn’t wait for a medical emergency to seek help. Kratom and 7-OH dependence can be addressed using many of the same approaches used for other opioid use disorders, including medically supervised withdrawal management and counseling.
Search addiction treatment centers via our directory to find local options equipped to treat kratom and 7-OH dependence. Feel free to also call
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