As she plans this weekend’s celebration of life for her only son, who died in May in Steamboat Springs, mom Stephanie Rausser remains “enraged.”
“The fact that this substance is so toxic and readily available, there is not even room for all that rage yet,” said Rausser, speaking of the synthetic drug known as 7-OH, or 7-hydroxymitragynine, that is a potent, opioid-like compound derived from the kratom plant.
In early May, 29-year-old Denver resident Max Cowell, son of Rausser and husband Lawrence Cowell of California, was visiting a female friend in Steamboat. During an evening of restaurant and bar hopping with friends, Max Cowell purchased 7-OH at The Y-Not Shop in downtown Steamboat, according to Steamboat Springs Police Department reports…