Crime And Public Health News

Indiana toddler left in coma after boyfriend allegedly exposes him to unregulated 7-OH kratom

A 2-year-old boy in Auburn, Indiana, suffered a catastrophic brain injury after being exposed to 7-OH, a potent opioid derived from kratom. Police charged 20-year-old Kole Schwarz, the child’s mother’s live-in boyfriend, with neglect resulting in catastrophic injury. The toddler was hospitalized in September and later transferred to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, where tests confirmed the presence of kratom-related drugs. The FDA has warned about the proliferation of unregulated 7-OH products sold over the counter, which are illegal in Indiana but available in neighboring Michigan.