The Dangers of Gas Station Heroin

“Gas station heroin” sounds like a punchline from a sketch showuntil you realize it’s a nickname people use for
real products that have sent real people to the emergency room. The phrase usually points to tianeptine:
an unapproved drug that has shown up in the U.S. marketplace disguised as a “supplement,” a “mood booster,” or an
“energy” product. And like the worst kind of surprise ingredient, it can act on opioid receptors and lead to
dependence, withdrawal, and life-threatening effects.

This article breaks down what “gas station heroin” typically refers to, why it’s risky, what the science and public
health reports show, and how to protect yourself and your familywithout fear-mongering, without hype, and without
pretending a flashy label equals safety.

What People Mean by “Gas Station Heroin”

Most often, it’s tianeptine

Tianeptine is used as a prescription antidepressant in some countries, but it is not approved by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any medical use. In the U.S., the FDA has repeatedly warned consumers
to avoid products containing tianeptine because of serious risks, including reports of seizures, loss of
consciousness, and death. When people call it “gas station heroin,” they’re usually pointing to its opioid-like
effects and the way it has been marketed and sold outside normal pharmacy safeguards.

Sometimes the nickname gets slapped onto other “legal-ish” highs

The internet loves a dramatic nickname, so “gas station heroin” can sometimes be used loosely for other
convenience-store-type intoxicants. One common crossover is kratom, a plant product with opioid-like
effects that the FDA has warned against due to serious adverse events and risk of substance use disorder. More
recently, regulators and journalists have focused on potent kratom-derived compounds (such as 7-hydroxymitragynine,
sometimes shortened to “7-OH”) appearing in highly concentrated products.

Translation: if you hear the phrase, don’t assume everyone is talking about the same thing. But if the product is
unapproved, psychoactive, and marketed like a harmless supplement, the risk pattern starts to look very familiar.

Why It’s Dangerous (Even If the Label Looks Harmless)

1) “Supplement” packaging can hide drug-like effects

In the U.S., dietary supplements don’t go through the same pre-market approval process as prescription medications.
That doesn’t mean supplements are automatically badit means the safety net is different. When a product contains
a pharmacologically active substance like tianeptine, the mismatch becomes a problem: consumers may assume “natural”
or “over-the-counter” equals “safe,” and take more than intended or mix it with other substances.

2) Dependence can develop fastand quitting can feel brutal

One of the most alarming aspects of tianeptine misuse is how quickly dependence can set in. Public health reports
and poison center data describe withdrawal symptoms that can resemble opioid withdrawal. That “I can stop whenever”
confidence can collapse into a cycle of using simply to feel normalan exhausting loop that hijacks sleep, mood,
appetite, and daily functioning.

3) The biggest danger is what opioids are famous for: breathing problems

Opioid-like substances can suppress breathing. That risk can increase when a product is taken alongside other
depressants (like alcohol or certain prescription sedatives) or when someone has underlying health issues. The FDA
and CDC have both described severe adverse events linked to tianeptine products, and poison center reports show that
many cases require hospital-level care.

4) Mislabeling and adulteration turn “unknown” into “unpredictable”

A terrifying twist: sometimes it’s not just tianeptine. A CDC field report on a cluster of severe illness described
a product that people believed was tianeptine but was linked to additional substances, including synthetic
cannabinoids. In plain English: you might not be getting what you think you’re getting, and neither will the
clinicians trying to treat you quickly.

5) Mental health claims can bait people who are already struggling

Some products are marketed with claims about anxiety, mood, focus, or even opioid withdrawal relief. That’s a risky
sales pitch because it targets people looking for reliefoften without access to affordable care. But swapping
evidence-based treatment for an unapproved substance can make mental health symptoms worse, delay real support, and
increase the chance of dependence.

The “Convenience Store Effect”: Why This Problem Spreads

Here’s the perfect storm:

• Easy access + impulse buying + bright packaging
• Vague promises (“relaxation,” “mood,” “energy”) that sound just medical enough to feel legit
• No pharmacist asking about other meds, allergies, or health conditions
• Online hype that makes risky behavior look normalor even “biohacker cool”

The FDA has explicitly warned about tianeptine products being available in ways that can reach young people, urging
proactive awareness rather than waiting for the trend to explode. If that sounds like déjà vu, it’s because we’ve
seen a similar pattern with vaping: flashy, portable, marketed as “not that serious,” and thenoopspublic health
emergency.

What the Evidence Says (and What It Doesn’t)

Poison center data shows a real rise in harm

CDC analyses of poison control center calls have documented increases in reported tianeptine exposures over time,
including patterns consistent with misuse and withdrawal. More recent poison center research (covering later years)
also describes a sharp increase and a meaningful share of cases needing significant medical care.

Two important notes:

1. Poison center calls don’t capture every case. They’re a “smoke alarm,” not the full fire map.
2. Even so, rising calls across years are a strong signal that more people are being exposedand more people are
   having bad outcomes.

FDA warnings are not casual suggestions

When the FDA tells consumers “do not purchase or use” a category of products, that’s not a mild caution labelit’s
a red flag the size of a billboard. The FDA has connected tianeptine products to severe adverse event reports and
has taken actions like warnings, recalls, and outreach to retailers.

Kratom and “7-OH” add a second lane of risk

Kratom is controversial because many users claim benefits, but federal health agencies have repeatedly raised safety
concernsespecially around dependence, seizures, liver toxicity, and product variability. Meanwhile, concentrated
kratom-derived compounds such as 7-OH have drawn intensified scrutiny because potency and formulation can shift the
risk profile in a big way.

Why Teens and Families Should Take This Seriously

If you’re a teen reading this: you deserve a life where “feeling better” doesn’t come from rolling the dice on
mystery chemistry. Products with opioid-like effects can turn experimentation into dependence faster than people
expect, and the consequences don’t stop at healththere are legal, school, and family impacts too.

If you’re a parent/guardian: the danger isn’t just “bad choices.” It’s a marketplace where psychoactive products can
be framed as harmless, sold with friendly language, and shared peer-to-peer like a “hack.” The best protection is
informed, calm communicationplus clear household expectations about not taking any pill, shot, gummy, or “booster”
that isn’t specifically approved by a trusted adult and, ideally, a medical professional.

Recognizing a Medical Emergency

If someone is suddenly very hard to wake, confused, having seizures, collapsing, or breathing slowly or irregularly,
treat it as an emergency. Call 911 right away.

In the U.S., you can also contact Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222 for immediate guidance. Poison centers
can advise what to do next while help is on the way (and they’re used by hospitals, too).

If the situation isn’t an emergency but someone is stuck in a pattern of use and withdrawal, support is available.
The SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP) can help people find treatment resources.

How to Protect Yourself (Without Turning Your Life Into a Detective Show)

Stick to a simple rule: “Unapproved + psychoactive + marketed as a supplement” = hard pass

You shouldn’t need a chemistry degree to avoid danger. If a product promises big changes in mood, energy, focus, or
reliefyet isn’t FDA-approved as a medicationthat mismatch matters.

Don’t mix “mystery products” with any medication or alcohol

Mixing substances increases unpredictability and risk. Even many legitimate medications have serious interaction
warnings. With unapproved products, the uncertainty is worse. The safest move is not to use them at all.

If you’re trying to manage anxiety, pain, or sleepget real help, not retail roulette

People often reach for these products because they’re chasing relief. That need is real. But the solution should be
evidence-based: a clinician, a counselor, a school nurse, a community health clinicsomeone who can offer treatment
that’s tested, monitored, and tailored.

If you suspect someone is using, lead with curiosity, not humiliation

Shame makes people hide. Calm questions make people talk. Try:
“What did you think it was?” and “How did it make you feel afterward?”
Then move toward safety: remove access, offer support, and involve a healthcare professional.

Experiences Related to “Gas Station Heroin” (Real-World Patterns, Composite Stories)

The stories below are compositesbuilt from recurring themes described in public health reports,
poison center summaries, and clinician discussions. They’re not meant to sensationalize. They’re meant to show how
ordinary life can collide with an extraordinary risk.

Experience #1: “I thought it was basically caffeine.”

A college freshman buys a small “energy/mood” product because finals are coming and sleep is a distant memory.
Nothing about the packaging screams “opioid-like.” It feels more like a pre-workout vibebold colors, confident
claims, tiny serving sizes. The first time, it seems to help. The second time, it helps less. Within a week, the
student notices a weird problem: the product no longer feels optional. Skipping it brings on agitation, nausea, and
a sense of crawling restlessness that makes sitting through class feel impossible.

The student doesn’t call it withdrawal. They call it “stress.” They keep using just to get through the day. When a
roommate finally pushes them toward help, they’re shocked by the clinician’s reaction: the clinician isn’t judging
themjust worried, because the symptoms resemble opioid-type dependence and the product isn’t regulated like a
medication.

Experience #2: “It was legal, so I assumed it was safe.”

A young worker hears about “gas station heroin” on social media and rolls their eyes. Sounds like fearmongering,
right? But then a friend offers a “totally legal” supplement that supposedly helps with mood and motivation. The
person tries it, feels oddly sedated, and later can’t remember parts of the evening clearly. The next day they feel
foggy and anxious, and they keep thinking about taking morepartly to “fix” the bad feeling.

Here’s the trap: legality (or perceived legality) isn’t the same as safety. Public health reports have described
severe adverse outcomes and even clusters of illness where products contained substances people didn’t expect. When
the person finally calls Poison Help, the specialist focuses on immediate safetywhat was taken, what symptoms are
happening nowand recommends medical evaluation because unpredictable products can turn serious quickly.

Experience #3: “The ER doctor said, ‘We’re seeing more of this.’”

An adult with a history of anxiety tries an unapproved product after reading testimonials online. The person doesn’t
consider that they’re already taking prescribed medication. After using the product, they develop alarming symptoms:
severe confusion, extreme drowsiness, and they’re difficult to wake. Family members call emergency services.

In the ER, the clinician explains a hard truth: these cases are complicated. Routine drug tests may not identify the
substance. The team has to treat the symptoms, monitor breathing, and piece together clues from packaging and
patient history. The family is stunned that something sold like a “wellness” item could cause hospital-level harm.
That surprisemore than anythingbecomes the lesson they tell others: the danger is not just the drug-like effect,
but the disguise.

Experience #4: “Quitting was the scariest part.”

Another pattern shows up repeatedly: people who decide to stop find that stopping is harder than starting. They may
experience intense restlessness, gastrointestinal distress, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and anxietysymptoms that
mirror opioid-type withdrawal described in poison center data and CDC reporting. At that stage, people can panic and
return to use just to make it stop.

This is where support matters most. A clinician can help manage withdrawal safely and connect the person to
treatment. The “experience” here isn’t dramatic in a movie senseit’s exhausting, lonely, and disruptive. The
dangerous part is that it can convince someone they’re “weak,” when the reality is pharmacology: dependence changes
the body, and recovery is a medical and psychological process, not a personality test.

Conclusion: The Real Danger Is the Disguise

“Gas station heroin” is a nickname, not a diagnosisbut it points to a very real public health problem: unapproved,
opioid-like substances (especially tianeptine) being marketed in ways that can make them seem harmless. The risks
include dependence, withdrawal, severe adverse events, and unpredictable ingredients. Whether you’re a teen trying
to navigate peer pressure, a parent trying to keep your household safe, or an adult looking for relief from pain or
anxiety, the safest choice is the same: avoid unapproved psychoactive products and seek evidence-based care.

If you suspect exposure or someone is having severe symptoms, call 911. For guidance, call
Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. For help finding treatment resources, contact
SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP).