Gas station drugs with opioid effects are becoming a growing concern in the United States. Sold over the counter in convenience stores, smoke shops, and gas stations, these products are legal in many areas but produce effects similar to opioids. Now, federal authorities are moving closer to banning them as illicit substances due to increasing reports of addiction, hospitalization, and even death.
These substances are often marketed under names like Zaza, Tiana, or Pegasus. They may seem harmless at first glance, packaged like herbal supplements or energy boosters. But many of them contain tianeptine, a drug not approved for medical use in the U.S., which can mimic the dangerous highs of opioids like heroin or fentanyl.
In this article, we’ll explore what these gas station drugs are, how they work, the risks involved, and why the federal government is planning a major crackdown.
Gas station drugs refer to unregulated products sold in small retail stores, often near checkout counters. These include capsules, powders, or liquid supplements that promise mood enhancement, pain relief, or energy boosts.
Some of these products contain tianeptine, a synthetic antidepressant that acts on the brain’s opioid receptors. It’s sometimes called the gas station heroin due to its powerful and addictive effects.
Though banned in several states, tianeptine and similar substances continue to be sold under various names such as:
Most customers are unaware that these supplements have opioid-like effects, or that they can be highly addictive and dangerous.
Tianeptine, the main chemical in many of these products, was originally developed in France as an antidepressant. But unlike most antidepressants, tianeptine binds to mu-opioid receptors in the brain—the same receptors targeted by prescription painkillers and illegal opioids.
At low doses, it can act as a mood stabilizer. But at high doses, it causes effects such as:
Some users take increasing amounts to maintain the high, leading to overdose and withdrawal symptoms that resemble heroin addiction.
Many of these products fly under the radar due to loopholes in federal regulations. They are not technically labeled as medications, so they don’t require FDA approval. Instead, they are sold as:
Because they aren’t controlled substances under federal law (yet), retailers can legally sell them in most states.
This has created a public health crisis. Emergency rooms have reported a rise in cases involving tianeptine toxicity. Poison control centers have also seen a spike in calls related to these products.
Due to the rising health risks, both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are taking action.
In 2023, the FDA issued warnings about tianeptine, calling it an unapproved drug associated with serious health risks.
The DEA has proposed classifying tianeptine as a Schedule I controlled substance, placing it in the same category as heroin and LSD.
If finalized, this move would make it illegal to manufacture, sell, or possess any product containing tianeptine nationwide.
Currently, over ten states have already banned the sale of tianeptine products. These include:
The health risks associated with these products are very real and often underestimated. Users may think they’re taking a safe herbal product, but the side effects can be severe.
Reported side effects include:
Long-term use can lead to:
Some people take these products while using other medications or alcohol, which increases the risk of life-threatening interactions.
Case 1:
A 33-year-old man in Alabama was found unconscious after taking high doses of Zaza Red. Doctors said he experienced opioid-induced respiratory failure. He recovered, but now suffers from anxiety and memory loss.
Case 2:
A 26-year-old woman in Georgia began taking Tiana for stress. She developed a dependency, began taking higher doses, and eventually lost her job. After multiple ER visits, she finally entered rehab.
Case 3:
Parents in Ohio lost their teenage son to a Pegasus overdose. He had purchased it from a gas station near his school. The packaging did not include any warnings.
There are a few reasons why these substances are becoming so common:
In a time where mental health issues and chronic pain are widespread, people may turn to these substances in desperation—without knowing the consequences.
Banning these substances at the federal level is a major step forward, but it’s not enough on its own. Here’s what needs to happen:
The rise of gas station drugs with opioid effects is a disturbing trend that puts lives at risk every day. Although marketed as harmless supplements, these products contain substances like tianeptine that can cause serious harm—and even death.
With the FDA and DEA pushing for stronger regulation, and states already taking action, we may finally see a federal ban that protects consumers from these dangerous products.
But until then, it’s up to the public to stay informed, avoid these substances, and demand safer options from retailers and lawmakers.
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