It can feel like a miracle to see your loved one finally sounding steadier after fighting opioid use disorder (OUD). You both may feel hopeful—right before you find an empty bottle in their cupholder with a name you’ve never heard before. When you ask, they shrug and tell you it’s nothing.
But when you Google it, you see gas station heroin come up, and your stomach does a somersault.
A bunch of questions can hit at once:
- Is this a relapse?
- Is this the same as heroin?
- Can you overdose on it?
- Why does a gas station sell something like this?
- What do you even do about this?
By gas station heroin, people usually mean tianeptine. They’re products that can behave a lot like opioids in the body, even though they might look like harmless supplements. But remember, if gas station heroin shows up in your loved one’s world, they’re not lost yet.
Let’s get a clearer idea of what tianeptine is, the other substances involved in its consumption, and what support for opioid use disorder (OUD) can look like with St. Gregory Recovery Center in Bayard, IA.
What Is Gas Station Heroin?
According to NPR, gas station heroin is a nickname people primarily use for tianeptine, an over-the-counter product that gas stations, smoke shops, and online vendors usually sell. Historically, tianeptine was a prescription antidepressant in other countries, but the FDA never approved it here in the U.S. Nowadays, authorities are raising alarms about serious tianeptine safety risks and comparing it to heroin.
The drug’s comparison to heroin boils down to how tianeptine affects the body. Researchers found that it can activate opioid receptors, so it can create euphoric or calming opioid-like effects, and it can also pull someone into dependence and rough withdrawal. That’s why people who already struggle with OUD can get snagged by it so fast, especially if they use it to avoid feeling sick, chase pain relief, or try to outsmart a fentanyl or heroin craving.
Tianeptine products typically vary in strength and can be mixed with other potentially harmful chemicals or substances like kratom and synthetic cannabinoids, which can all make these frequently seen effects even more unpredictable:
- A warm opioid-ish calm or buzz
- Heavy sedation or nodding off
- Feeling normal again only after another dose
- Respiratory depression (which can complicate breathing)
Another issue is that tianeptine distributors usually market the products with misleading packaging and branding, making it seem less risky than it actually is. People have reported seeing it sold under fun, playful names like Neptune’s Fix, Za Za, and Tianaa, even though authorities have urged retailers not to sell these products at all. Plus, it’s legal in some states and not others, creating even more confusion around the product.
At the same time, gas station heroin could also include other harmful substances beyond just tianeptine.
Tianeptine vs. Kratom vs. 7-OH
These three substances may get lumped together frequently since they can all mimic opioid-like effects, especially depending on the dose and concentration. Additionally, people can often find all three at gas stations across the country.
Here’s a list of each substance’s main identifiers to help you keep them straight.
Tianeptine
- Started as an antidepressant in other countries
- Researchers linked it to opioid receptor activity
- People may experience dependence and withdrawal, especially at high use levels
Kratom
- Kratom comes from the leaves of a tree traditionally used in Southeast Asia
- Can feel energizing in smaller amounts and more opioid-like in larger amounts
- Researchers and regulators still debate risks and how to regulate them
7-OH
- A compound connected to kratom called 7-hydroxymitragynine
- It can bind more directly to opioid receptors than many people expect
- Some products may not label high 7-OH content clearly
Treat Opioid Use Disorder With St. Gregory Recovery Center
If your loved one uses gas station heroin frequently and it makes them sleepy, spacey, or distant, you’re in opioid dependence territory. If they can’t stop without feeling awful withdrawal symptoms, you should seriously consider entering treatment.
Luckily, you don’t need a perfect diagnosis or a full timeline to reach out for support. St. Gregory Recovery Center in Iowa treats opioid use disorder holistically, from medical detox and evidence-based therapy to wellness, nutrition, and exercise, so you don’t only focus on stopping use, you also focus on rebuilding your life.
Here are some of the supports St. Gregory describes for OUD care:
- Medical detox: Supervised support for withdrawal symptoms
- Therapy: CBT and DBT to help change patterns and cope differently
- Holistic health focus: Yoga, meditation, and nutrition support
- Family involvement: Options that help loved ones support recovery in a healthier way
St. Gregory also offers different levels of care, which can matter if your loved one can’t step away from life for long or needs a more intensive reset.
- Residential treatment in Bayard
- Outpatient treatment in Des Moines
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
Enter Recovery For Heroin in Iowa
If you feel torn between panic and denial, that makes sense. But, even though using gas station heroin in recovery is a serious red flag, your loved one can come back from it. You can still help by calling St. Gregory Recovery Center. Our care team will talk you through what’s going on when you contact us, and we’ll figure out what kind of care plan makes the most sense right now for you and your family at our Bayard or Des Moines locations.
