When you make a routine stop at a gas station, you’re usually there to fill up your gas tank, or maybe purchase a hot dog, soda, or road trip snack at the convenience store. But to buy drugs? Believe it or not, the popularity of “gas station drugs” like tianeptine, kratom, and more is on the rise. And they’re available at a gas station, convenience store, or local smoke shop near you. These unregulated synthetic drugs may seem safe because they’re sold over the counter at legitimate establishments, but they’re often used off-label and can be addictive and dangerous.
What Exactly are Gas Station Drugs?
When you walk into a convenience store to purchase that candy bar, beef jerky, or fizzy fountain Dr. Pepper, you assume the products you’re buying are safe. And that carries over to those items at the counter, marketed under a catchy name in attractive consumer packaging that looks like everything else on the shelf. You probably don’t think twice about their legality — or their potential dangers. They’re given prime real estate (right there at eye level as you’re checking out), specially promoted by convenience stores and vape or smoke shops, and sometimes even offered as free giveaways.
Despite what the labels say, these seemingly harmless products are gas station drugs, a blanket term that refers to unregulated substances and synthetic drugs. Also known as designer drugs, these substances are created in labs to replicate the effects of illicit drugs like heroin, marijuana, or cocaine. Because they don’t actually contain the same ingredients of banned, illegal drugs, they may go undetected on drug tests. And it’s not just illegal drugs that these substances are trying to copy. They may also be designed to mimic the effects of controlled substances a doctor would prescribe.
Because manufacturers and stores are able to skirt the letter of the law, the legality of gas station drugs is a bit murky. Some may be considered legal while others are banned in certain states but not others. The problem is made worse by the lack of regulation associated with gas station drugs, meaning they’re not subject to the same safety protocols as pharmacies when manufactured. In other words, the actual ingredients within gas station heroin and other designer drugs can be unpredictable and especially harmful.
Because of their accessibility in retail environments, the public perception of these drugs is that they’re low risk. They may be marketed as mood enhancers or anxiety reducers, as well as herbal products and even dietary supplements. However, they’re often dangerous in their own right, and even worse when mixed with other legal or illegal drugs. Over time, using gas station drugs can lead to addiction and serious withdrawal struggles, according to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).
Gas Station Heroin and Other Common Synthetic Drugs
Since you can encounter and access a variety of gas station drugs at any time, it’s important to understand which specific drugs fall under this category. Before you reach for that “mood enhancer,” you need to know what you’re actually putting inside your body and how it can affect you over time. So let’s get familiar with the major players out there.
Common gas station drugs include:
Tianeptine (Gas Station Heroin)
Tianeptine is known as “gas station heroin” in certain communities (though companies don’t market it that way). It is typically sold on the shelf under product names like ZaZa, Tianaa, and Neptune’s Fix, for example. But just what is ZaZa, tianeptine, or gas station heroin, exactly?
Tianeptine is sold in the United States as a nootropic, or a substance that promises to enhance your mood and cognitive performance, according to NPR.org. Originally developed in Europe in the 1980s as an antidepressant, tianeptine was later discovered to work like an opioid, activating opioid receptors in your brain in the same ways as morphine or fentanyl.
However, since its inception, tianeptine has never been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for medical use. Surprisingly, tianeptine is not on the list of federally controlled substances, yet it has been banned in multiple states. The Commissioner of Food and Drugs even wrote a public letter to his colleagues in May 2025, educating them on the dangers of tianeptine products.
So, what makes gas station heroin so dangerous? For starters, it poses the risk of dependency and withdrawal due to its addictive properties. Beyond this, other effects of ingesting tianeptine include:
- Agitation
- Coma
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Respiratory depression
- Hypertension
- Death
SOURCE: FDA
7‑OH (“Gas‑Station Opioid”)
Just as tianeptine has gained a foothold in gas stations and convenience stores, another dangerous substance is emerging— 7‑hydroxymitragynine, colloquially known as 7‑OH. This concentrated derivative of the kratom plant is far more potent than kratom leaf itself — up to 13 times stronger than morphine.
In recent months, 7‑OH has been turning up in capsules, gummies, and drink shots, often marketed with flashy packaging that gives little indication of its dangers. While these products are sold openly alongside energy drinks and supplements, the risks are similar to those of powerful opioids. Detox centers across the country, including here at Discovery Place, are beginning to see admissions for 7‑OH withdrawal, and the symptoms are severe.
Because of these growing concerns, the FDA has issued warnings and recommended that 7‑OH be classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. Until that process is complete, products may still appear on store shelves, making awareness especially important.
Potential side effects of 7‑OH use can include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe drowsiness or sedation
- Confusion and disorientation
- Respiratory depression (slowed or stopped breathing)
- Seizures
- Physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms upon stopping use
The pattern is all too familiar: A potent, addictive drug hides in plain sight at everyday retailers, catching people off guard with its strength and addictive potential. Just as with tianeptine, 7‑OH poses a serious risk to anyone who uses it, and its presence in convenience stores underscores the importance of education and vigilance.
Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC
Delta-8 and delta-9 THC are both naturally occurring cannabinoids, chemicals found in the marijuana plant. They’re typically found in retail CBD or cannabis products, synthetically developed to convert CBD into delta-8 or delta-9, shares Forbes. Between the two, delta-9 occurs in higher concentrations within the marijuana plant and is known for its psychoactive effects. Delta-9’s high is also typically much more potent than that of delta-8.
As delta-9 is primarily responsible for the high found in marijuana, it’s been used medicinally in various ways. However, the FDA has not approved delta-9 for use in treating ailments such as pain, sleep disorders, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune disorders, according to the University of South Carolina. On the other hand, delta-8 THC products have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA for safe use in any context. The FDA even issued a public warning in 2022 about the serious health risks of products containing delta-8 THC. Even so, these products continue to be marketed for therapeutic or medical uses, putting public health at risk.
Because delta-8 isn’t as naturally abundant as delta-9, synthetically manufactured delta-8 products often expose consumers to much higher levels of the substance than what’s normally found in cannabis, according to the FDA. Consequently, adverse effects of delta-8 usage may include:
- Hallucinations
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Vomiting
- Tremors
- Loss of consciousness
Kratom
Kratom is a gas station drug derived from the kratom plant in Southeast Asia. It’s marketed in retail stores and online to self-treat anxiety, depression, pain, and diarrhea, as well as for opioid addiction and opioid withdrawal, according to the FDA. However, kratom has not been approved by the FDA for medical use, as a dietary supplement, or as a food additive, so it can’t be legally marketed in these ways.
With that said, is kratom legal? While some states have banned kratom, it is federally not under the Controlled Substances Act. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has listed kratom as a Drug and Chemical of Concern, however. That for now, kratom can be legally obtained in most parts of the US, even though it poses significant health risks. It’s possible to become addicted to kratom, for example, which can lead to kratom withdrawal. Kratom overdose and death have even occurred in some cases. Kratom use can also put you at risk for seizures, liver toxicity, hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, and anorexia.
Phenibut
What is phenibut? Originally developed in Russia in the 1960s, phenibut (also known as fenibut and noofen) is a synthetic depressant, according to MUSC. As a gas station drug, it’s used for anxiety or stress relief, opioid withdrawal, insomnia, and depression.
However, phenibut is an addictive drug, and it’s possible to overdose on it. While it may have similar symptoms to an opioid overdose, Narcan and other opioid overdose reversal drugs don’t work on phenibut, shares the Missouri Poison Center. Phenibut side effects include delirium, irritability, seizures, and increased heart rate, shares Utah.gov. Consequently, phenibut is not approved by the FDA in clinical settings, as well as for use as a dietary supplement.
Xylazine (Tranq)
Xylazine (also known as tranq) is commonly mixed with illicit opioids like fentanyl. But what is tranq, exactly? According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), xylazine is a non-opioid sedative or tranquilizer commonly used by veterinarians. Though it is not considered a controlled substance, it’s also not approved for human use. When consumed, tranq can reduce breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure to dangerously low levels. It’s also been known to lead to overdose deaths, especially when mixed with other drugs. Tranq wounds can also occur from repeated use, such as abscesses, skin wounds, and open sores.
Legal Highs: Who Uses Gas Station Drugs?
Because of their murky legality and widespread accessibility, gas station drugs continue to gain popularity. They’re even known as “legal highs” because they claim to be made from compounds that are legal to sell, possess, and use. However, they’re often labeled in fine print as “not for human consumption” to circumvent drug abuse legislation, according to the International Review of Neurobiology.
As these drugs grow in popularity, they’re increasingly affecting adolescents and young adults across the United States. According to the Keck School of Medicine of USC, 11% of US 12th graders used delta-8 THC in 2023, for example. The National Poison Data System even reported that nearly 57% of calls from 2000 to 2017 associated with gas station heroin involved people between the ages of 21-40, according to NPR.org.
Get Help for Addiction at Discovery Place
The southern region of the US was reported to have the highest percentage of tianeptine exposures in 2018, according to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Though it was eventually banned in Tennessee, it continues to be a problem in the Volunteer State. Other gas station drugs like kratom and 7-OH remain legal to purchase and use here. If you find yourself struggling with substance abuse or addiction associated with gas station drugs, it’s critical to seek help.
Tucked away in the countryside of Burns, Tennessee, our recovery guides at Discovery Place are here to come alongside you on an immersive, 12-Step spiritual journey. If you’re ready to finally get sober and reclaim your life, contact our team today.
