By Mark S. Gold M.D. – Psychology Today – The dangers of tianeptine, synthetic kratom, and other “gas station” drugs. KEY POINTS The term “gas station heroin” encompasses the drug tianeptine and other 7-OH drugs with dangerous opioid-like effects, but which may be purchased (for now) at smoke shops, gas stations, and other outlets. Typically…

Alert – NDEWS – This week’s NDEWS Weekly Briefing focuses exclusively on tianeptine, an atypical antidepressant that is increasingly sold in the United States under names like “ZaZa”, “Neptune’s Fix”, and “Tianna Red”. Tianeptine has been linked to serious health outcomes, particularly when used at doses far exceeding the therapeutic range or when combined with…

Alert – FDA – In the U.S., tianeptine is not approved by the FDA for any medical use, is not generally recognized as safe for use in food, and does not meet the statutory definition of a dietary ingredient. Nevertheless, tianeptine is being marketed as a “research chemical,” a “nootropic” cognitive enhancer, or a dietary…

Alert – FDA – This page lists warning letters FDA has issued to firms marketing cannabis-derived products, including cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8 THC) products. FDA will continue to take action against CBD and other cannabis-derived products to protect the public, in coordination with state regulatory partners, when appropriate. We will remain diligent in…

Alert – NDEWS – In this week’s report, NDEWS highlights observations from biospatial.io detailing the EMS encounters in the US for nonfatal inhalant-related overdoses from 2023 to 2024. Among states with at least 75% coverage, there were 852 nonfatal inhalant-related overdose encounters. Read Original Alert

By Jan Hoffman – The New York Times – Tianeptine, found at convenience stores, at smoke shops and online, can mimic an opioid. It is among a growing class of substances that are difficult to control. The young father headed across the parking lot to join the other parents meeting their children’s new preschool teachers.…

Alert – FTC – Agencies call out firms for putting kids’ health at risk for the sake of profit For the second time in as many years, the Federal Trade Commission today sent cease-and-desist letters – jointly with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – to several companies currently marketing edibles containing Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol…

Alert – NDEWS – What is 7-OH? 7-hydroxymitragynine or 7-OH is an opioid-receptor binding alkaloid that occurs naturally in trace amounts in kratom leaves What was found? Dr. Christopher McCurdy, an internationally recognized kratom expert, alerted the NDEWS team to the presence of synthetically created 7-OH pharmaceuticals being marketed as kratom products. In response, the NDEWS team analyzed…