03/02/2026
OKC Addiction Specialist Warns Oklahoma Employers About Emerging Blind Spot in Employment Drug Screens: Kratom Alkaloids 7-OH and MGM-15 Cause Workplace Impairment and NOT Detected by Standard Drug Tests.
Dr. Robert Westcott is advising Oklahoma employers and safety directors to pay attention to the growing risks from Kratom in the workplace, especially impairment caused by Kratom compounds 7-OH and MGM-15—and the critical fact that standard 12-panel drug tests do NOT detect these substances.
As seen on News 9, high-potency, unscheduled opioids are currently being sold in local convenience stores as "natural energy boosters," but their impact on workplace safety is anything but natural.
What the Oklahoma Business Community Needs to Know:
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⚠️ Potency: Compounds like 7-OH and MGM-15 are sold at retail as "plant-based dietary supplements", but can be 13 to 15 times more potent than morphine, creating a high risk for severe impairment in safety-sensitive roles.
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⚠️ Testing Gap: Because these are "unscheduled" synthetic opioids, they are invisible to routine 5, 10, and 12-panel drug screens. This creates a massive liability for any company with drivers on the road or personnel at work sites, including the oil & gas, construction, and transportation industries.
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⚠️ Mitigation: As an addiction specialist, SAMHSA instructor, and clinical researcher, Dr. Westcott can help Oklahoma companies identify these "hidden" impairment risks and provide private medical stabilization for employees in need.
Dr. Westcott is advising Oklahoma companies to take this risk seriously, as a new wave of ‘accidental addicts’ is emerging across Oklahoma. Most were innocent consumers who simply thought they were buying a natural energy booster for their workday.
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Watch the full News 9 report here:
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https://www.news9.com/oklahoma-city-news/oklahoma-city-doctor-raises-concerns-over-use-of-kratom-in-the-workplace
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Need Help? If you or an employee are struggling with dependency, relief is available. Medical Therapy Associates in Oklahoma City offers private, outpatient medical stabilization that protects your professional reputation.
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📞 Contact us: (405) 840-4800
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🌐 Learn more: www.suboxone-support.com
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An Oklahoma City doctor is raising concerns about Kratom and how it is impacting people in the workplace.