Comment from Peagler, Ashley, HHS-OASH-2026-0232, HHS-OASH-2026-0232-0001, 2026-13608

To Whom It May Concern, My name is Ashley, and I am from Charleston, South Carolina. I am a mother to a child with special needs, a college graduate, and an active community volunteer. Through years of volunteer work, I have had the privilege of helping support and positively impact the lives of thousands of children and families. I am a productive member of my community who strives to give back whenever possible. I am writing today to share my personal experience and respectfully ask that my voice be considered as decisions are made regarding 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). I use 7-OH daily to manage chronic pain resulting from old injuries, hereditary medical conditions, and painful gynecological conditions that significantly affect my quality of life. Without effective pain management, I would likely require medications that leave me unable to function normally or spend much of my life confined to bed. Instead, 7-OH allows me to remain active, care for my family, volunteer in my community, and live with dignity. I would also like to respectfully clarify an important misconception. 7-hydroxymitragynine is a naturally occurring alkaloid found within the Kratom plant. It is not a synthetic substance. While it exists in relatively small amounts naturally, it is nevertheless a constituent of the plant itself. I believe it is important that policy decisions accurately reflect this scientific distinction. For many consumers like myself, 7-OH is not about seeking intoxication—it is about maintaining a functional, productive life. It has provided an alternative that helps manage chronic pain while allowing me to avoid medications that can produce significant side effects or impair my ability to care for my family and contribute to society. I support responsible regulation, including standards that prioritize product safety, quality, transparency, accurate labeling, and accountability. I do not support prohibition. History has repeatedly shown that banning products people rely on does not eliminate demand. Instead, it often drives consumers toward unregulated and potentially dangerous markets, reducing consumer safety rather than improving it. Millions of Americans live with chronic pain and deserve access to safe, regulated alternatives. Policies should be based on science, evidence, and real-world experiences from responsible consumers whose lives have been improved through these products. I respectfully ask that you consider the impact these decisions will have on ordinary people—parents, caregivers, veterans, workers, volunteers, and community members like myself—who rely on 7-OH to remain healthy, independent, and productive. Please pursue thoughtful, evidence-based regulation that preserves safe access while protecting consumers, rather than implementing restrictions that may unintentionally cause more harm than good. Thank you for your time, your consideration, and your commitment to listening to the voices of the people whose lives will be directly affected by these decisions. Respectfully, Ashley Charleston, South Carolina