Comment from Dutton, Lauren, HHS-OASH-2026-0232, HHS-OASH-2026-0232-0001, 2026-13608

My Story: A Patient, A Parent, A Citizen Not a Criminal I want to share my story and how recent decisions have affected my life and my family. I am a former pain management patient living with kyphosis scoliosis and now a cervical prolapse. I am in constant pain, and because of this, I was prescribed opioid medication for many years. Over time, I became exhausted—not just from the pain, but from the system itself. The medication, the constant monitoring, the harsh criticism from doctors and society, and especially the stigma placed on women in pain management took a serious toll on me. I felt powerless, judged, and misunderstood. Eventually, I learned about kratom and decided to try it. It worked better for me than anything I had used before. I also noticed that I could not take kratom and Percocet together. If I did, I would begin to experience mild withdrawal. That showed me how effective kratom was in helping me manage my pain. Because of this, I made the difficult decision to leave traditional pain management and rely on kratom instead. For the first time in years, I felt in control of my life. My health improved, my confidence returned, and I was no longer dependent on a system that treated me like a suspect instead of a patient. People often use the term “self-medication” in a negative way. I reject that stigma. I believe that term was created by big pharmaceutical interests to discourage people from seeking alternatives. I am proud to say that I took responsibility for my health and found what worked for me. When my pain was especially severe, I also used 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). It helped me function and live my life. Even with these supplements, I spent far less than I ever did in pain management. Then, suddenly, these products were banned. Overnight, law-abiding citizens like me were turned into criminals. No meaningful consideration was given to the adults, families, and patients who relied on these products to live normal lives. No transition period. No support. No compassion. These are not reckless people. We are parents, spouses, grandparents, workers, and caregivers. We deserve leaders who make decisions based on science, integrity, and careful investigation—not personal opinion, bias, or flawed reasoning. The “science” used to justify these bans does not support the narrative being presented. In many cases, officials point to deaths where 7-OH was present in someone’s system, while ignoring major contributing factors such as severe obesity, fluid-filled lungs, or multiple underlying health conditions. No deaths have been conclusively linked to 7-OH alone. When important details are omitted, half-truths are told. And half-truths are still lies. Why would leaders misrepresent the facts? That is a larger issue, tied to systemic problems that affect all of society—not just kratom users. I urge lawmakers and decision-makers to base their actions on real science. Consider the evidence. Use your judgment responsibly. Remember that opioid-related deaths have declined since 2021. We are told this decline is due to policy changes. But few will acknowledge that 7-OH became widely available in 2021 as well. For many of us, it became a safer alternative and helped us leave dangerous prescription opioids behind. It is an unsung part of that progress. My story is not unique. Thousands of people like me found stability, safety, and dignity through these alternatives. Now, many of us are being forced back into systems that failed us—or into suffering in silence. I am not a criminal. I am a patient. I am a parent. I am a citizen who deserves compassion, honesty, and evidence-based leadership. Please feel free to share my story and my stance with anyone who will listen.