Connecticut has taken action against a substance often referred to as “gas station heroin.” This name arises from its availability at convenience stores, gas stations, and vape shops.
The state’s new regulations now include tianeptine and kratom, a psychoactive substance derived from an Asian tree. This was confirmed in an announcement made this week by state officials.
So far, fourteen states classify tianeptine, which is a tricyclic antidepressant, as a controlled substance, and kratom has been banned in at least seven states as well as in major cities like Denver and San Diego.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has stated:
Tianeptine is a drug that hasn’t received FDA approval for medical use. Despite this, various companies sell illegal products that include tianeptine, even in high doses. They often make unverified claims that tianeptine can treat anxiety, depression, and other conditions.
The FDA notes that it could potentially lead to addiction.
This drug is available under different names, such as Tianaa, ZaZa, Neptune’s Fix, Pegasus, and TD Red.
Kratom, or Mitragyna speciosa, is derived from the leaves of a tree that grows in Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Thailand.
As stated by Sprout Health Group, an addiction clinic in New Jersey:
While it’s often marketed as a therapeutic aid or opioid alternative, most medical experts warn that kratom poses serious health risks. The variability of its active ingredients from plant to plant makes its effects unpredictable, which increases the potential for overdose and severe side effects, including seizures, hallucinations, vomiting, liver damage, and even death.
In announcing the ban in Connecticut, effective Wednesday, Consumer Protection Secretary Brian Cafferelli remarked:
These substances are not deemed safe for medical use and are sold in places that are easily accessed by children and vulnerable groups. Despite their labeling as health products, these items haven’t been tested for safety, and they can be addictive and pose significant health risks to the public.
Alongside kratom and tianeptine, the state has also prohibited seven other substances, including 7-hydroxymitragynine, bromazolam, flubromazolam, nitazene, and phenibut.
Last May, the FDA under the Trump Administration warned about the dangers of these easily accessible products, describing their use as a troubling health trend that poses significant risks.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong urged consumers to help eliminate these products from the state.
These products are unsafe and untested, so if you encounter them, don’t purchase them and notify the police. I’m reaching out to all known distributors to ensure they’re aware of the regulations.
He added, “We’ll monitor compliance closely; if you’re selling in Connecticut, we’ll find out and hold you accountable.”
