CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — There are renewed warnings about a product known as "gas station heroin," which is causing hospitalizations across the Tampa Bay Area.
According to the FDA, Tianeptine has been falsely marketed as treating anxiety, depression, pain, and even opioid use disorder. And the agency says its dangers have been understated, as it is known to be addictive and even connected to fatal overdoses.
Tianeptine has been sold at service stations and smoke shops, and its addictive, dangerous nature has earned it the nickname "gas station heroin."
It will soon be illegal in our state. This year, lawmakers passed legislation making it a felony to buy, sell, or possess Tianeptine in Florida. This comes after Attorney General Ashley Moody placed an emergency ban on the substance last September.
Meanwhile, Citrus County Fire Rescue continues to warn the public of the dangers of tianeptine, particularly after a recent local overdose was connected to the substance.
"It comes down to life and death," Jason Morgan, division chief of EMS for Citrus County Fire Rescue, said. "You never know if it's going to be the same high or it's going to lead to death."
Morgan said an overdose with tianeptine is indistinguishable from that of a heroin overdose.
"It has the same symptoms that heroin does. It does the same thing, has a respiratory depressant, lowers the respiratory rate, lowers their heart rate," Morgan said.
Morgan believes there could be more unreported cases of Tianeptine-related overdoses in their region.
"The person has to admit to taking this product. So a lot of the information is not well shared. So there could be several people out there that have overdosed that were not aware of, that did take this product without them admitting to it," he said.
Morgan said he is concerned that until Tianeptine is illegal nationwide, slippery companies will continue to put you at risk for a profit.
"Companies or people will remove one dangerous product that is outlawed and replace it with another product that's not outlawed," Morgan said. "We don't want anybody to have to face a loved one that is taking this, gets addicted to different things, and then goes down that path that leads to death."
Resources for recovery and support:
- Al-Anon and Alateen (Friends and families of problem drinkers): 813-881-9372
- Alcoholics Anonymous: 813-933-9123 (Online meeting list for AA/NA at meetings.intherooms.com
- Footprints Beachside Recovery Center: 727-954-3908
- Narcotics Anonymous: 813-879-HELP (4357)
- Nar-Anon: 800-477-6291
- SAMHSA Hotline (referrals to local treatment, support groups, and CBOs): 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or 1-800-487-4889