Pfluger offers bill to outlaw “gas station heroin”

U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) on Jan. 22 cosponsored a bipartisan bill to ban the illegal use of tianeptine, commonly known as “gas station heroin.”

“Tianeptine, a potent opioid-like drug, poses alarming risks, and the ease of acquiring it — like candy — is a public health threat,” Rep. Pfluger said. “Recognizing proactive state measures and prioritizing safety, we underscore our commitment to combat the opioid epidemic and protect our communities.”

The Scheduling Tianeptine and Analogues Now to Defend (STAND) Against Emerging Opioids Act, H.R. 7068, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), would add tianeptine and all of its analogues to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal to sell it without a prescription, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Pfluger’s staff.

“I am proud to work with Congressman Jimmy Panetta on bipartisan legislation to place tianeptine under Schedule III — a crucial step to getting this addictive drug out of convenience stores and gas stations,” said Rep. Pfluger.

While tianeptine is used to treat depression in some European, Asian, and Latin American countries, it is not approved for any use by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA). It has been distributed online and at retail locations without a prescription as part of a wider category of so-called gas station drugs that mimic the effects of more well-known illicit, controlled substances, the summary says.

For instance, misusing tianeptine may lead to euphoric, opioid-like highs with the potential for chronic users to develop dependence, and overdoses and use in suicide attempts also have been documented, states the summary.

While H.R. 7068 would make the sale of tianeptine without a prescription illegal, the FDA still would have the ability to approve the drug for medical use at its discretion, according to the summary.

“By scheduling tianeptine under the Controlled Substances Act, the bipartisan STAND Against Emerging Opioids Act will help prevent the prevalence and abuse of this unregulated drug,” said Rep. Panetta. “As the opioid crisis continues to evolve, the federal government needs to actively monitor these types of emerging drugs as threats to our public health and safety.”