“Gas Station Heroin” Crackdown in Louisiana: What You Need to Know

A Louisiana man was arrested just last week for selling unapproved THC products as well as an illegal drug called "Gas Station Heroin." The substance is a Schedule I narcotic in Louisiana and carries dangerous side effects that anyone looking for a high time in the Bayou State should be aware of.

Lawmakers in Louisiana have floated the possibility of raising taxes on legally available THC products in the state.

If the taxes are increased, it wouldn't be shocking to see the stoners of Louisiana look for a cheaper alternative, but warnings need to be shared about the risks associated with this illegal alternative.

Louisiana Among Several States To Ban Gas Station Heroin

Gas Station Heroin is the street name for tianeptine, an antidepressant that has never been approved for medical use in the United States. In Alexandria, an employee of ZaZa's Vape Shop was arrested for selling tianeptine and illegal THC products (the kind you need a medical license for, not the Delta-8 you see in the windows of shops).

Tianeptine was discovered in the 1960s in France, where it is a regulated medicine, but here in the States, the story is not the same. In America, the drug has been sold for years but never officially prescribed as a medication and legally cannot be sold as a food or supplement.

Michigan was the first state to ban gas station heroin back in 2018. Other states would include Alabama, Ohio, Kentucky, Florida, and Tennessee. Louisiana joined the party last year and classified gas station heroin as a Schedule I controlled substance.

So, if the drug was made as a medicine and acts as an antidepressant, then why has it become illegal, and why is it considered dangerous?

Why Louisiana Classifies Tianeptine as Schedule I

In 2023, the Federal Department of Agriculture warned Americans that tianeptine products could cause serious side effects like seizures and loss of consciousness.

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On top of the seizures the drug can cause, the dependency tiapetine builds can be very similar to the toxic effects of opioids like heroin, hence the nickname.

Tiapetine can be snuck into other products like THC gummies, so even if you are not actively seeking it out and might be looking for something else, buyers still need to stay vigilant as to who they trust to get their fix from.

The safest way to enjoy the benefits of THC in Louisiana will always be Louisiana's medical marijuana program, where everything is legally inspected to ensure there will be no dangers associated with the product. As for an alternative, well, it's safe to say that tiapetine is not a safe choice.