Gas Station Drugs: An Overview

:Did you know that you potentially can find addictive drugs sold on the shelves at the gas station convenience store down the street right now? Next to the candy, energy drinks, and lottery tickets, you may see tianeptine, delta-8, kratom, and more. These drugs make up what are called “gas station drugs”, and are synthetic, unregulated drugs sold at everyday retail establishments. While they may seem harmless on the surface, they can sadly become dangerous and addictive—and are growing in popularity as a result.

What are Gas Station Drugs?

It’s got a cool brand name and appealing product packaging. It’s commonly for sale at corner stores, gas stations, smoke or vape shops, and more. What we’re talking about here is not a soda, chip, candy, or road trip snack brand. Nor is it just plain old beer or tobacco. These are substances called gas station drugs, which are unregulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

These synthetic drugs mimic the effects of controlled substances a doctor would prescribe, according to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Commonly labeled as dietary supplements, mood enhancers, herbal products, and anxiety relievers, these gas station drugs can be addictive, and may even be combined with other drugs. 

But why are these gas station drugs being sold in retail environments? In many ways, substances like these fall into legal gray areas. Consequently, they don’t abide by the strict regulatory standards that pharmaceuticals would, creating further complications and increased risks. They may contain undisclosed ingredients, for example, and often make misleading claims. By taking a gas station drug, you’re potentially consuming harmful ingredients and even risking substance abuse and addiction. 

Common Gas Station Drugs

If you’re concerned about unwanted exposure to gas station drugs, it’s important to know the specific types of drugs you may encounter on the convenience store shelves. You may actually already be familiar with some of the names. With that said, common gas station drugs include:

Tianeptine (Gas Station Heroin)

Tianeptine, also known as “gas station heroin,” touts its ability to temporarily increase your cognitive abilities and enhance your mood. Sold on the shelves under names like ZaZa, Neptune’s Fix, Pegasus Red, Tianaa, and Purple Magic, tianeptine has caused a dramatic spike in cases at US poison control centers. Authorities also warn that gas station heroin poses overdose, dependency, and withdrawal risks, according to NPR. 

Like other gas station drugs, tianeptine’s legality is nebulous. It’s illegal to market and sell the drug, but it’s also not on the US list of federally controlled substances. You can buy tianeptine online just as easily as you can at the neighborhood convenience store. With that said, a growing number of states have banned tianeptine, and the drug has never been cleared by the FDA for medical use. 

Kratom

Kratom is a common gas station drug you’re likely to find at smoke or vape shops, or even at certain vitamin stores. Sold as a supplement, kratom claims to:

• Boost energy levels
• Enhance mood
• Relieve pain,
• Alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms

 

Kratom comes from a tree in Southeast Asia, where the leaves may be chewed, dried and brewed as kratom tea, or added in liquids. However, the Mayo Clinic has declared kratom to be “unsafe and ineffective.” Not only are there health and safety problems linked to its use, but kratom also carries its own risk of addiction.

Delta-8 THC

Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as delta-8 THC, is a gas station drug associated with cannabis. While delta-8 occurs naturally within the cannabis plant, it’s usually just in small amounts. Consequently, delta-8 THC products you buy at stores can expose you to much higher levels of the substance than what you may get through historical use of cannabis, according to the FDA. Delta-8 has psychoactive and intoxicating effects, even though people perceive it as therapeutic. Studies have even shown both increasing adverse effects and increasing national poison control center exposure cases due to delta-8. 

Phenibut

The former Soviet Union developed phenibut to help military personnel overcome anxiety and improve cognitive function. Today, however, it’s one of the primary gas station drugs marketed in the United States as a way to improve brain function. However, the therapeutic effects of phenibut remain questionable, according to Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology (BCPT). Unfortunately, many negative effects have been reported instead, including intoxication and life-threatening hospitalization. Prolonged phenibut use can also lead to addiction. 

Overcome Addiction to Gas Station Drugs at Integrative Life Center

While substances like alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and opioids have become well-known for their addictive properties, gas stations drug addiction is on the rise as well. If you’re struggling with addiction to gas station drugs like kratom or phenibut, we can help. At Integrative Life Center in Nashville, TN, our comprehensive substance abuse treatment programs are personalized to address the root causes of your addiction, not just your symptoms. Call us today to start your journey to lasting sobriety.

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source https://integrativelifecenter.com/substance-abuse/gas-station-drugs-an-overview/