The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced Wednesday it has filed notices to temporarily place 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and three related substances into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) determined the substances have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. “DEA believes these substances pose an imminent threat to public safety given their effects are highly unpredictable,” the DEA said in a statement. “Today’s action is part of a broader effort to combat the opioid epidemic and protect American families from dangerous synthetic drugs.” The DEA said two Notices of Intent were sent to the Federal Register. One addresses 7-OH above a specified threshold, while the second would place three related substances—mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15 and MGM-16—into Schedule I....