Resources

Gas Station Heroin is driving a nationwide public health crisis. This collection of scientific studies, media reports, policy proposals, and other relevant resources is meant to expose the truth behind lab-made synthetic substances — clarifying the differences between natural plants and intoxicating, dissociative derivatives that mimic the effects of scheduled drugs.

Glossary of Terms

Bad actors deliberately blur the line between natural plants and lab-made synthetics. Here’s a breakdown of the most common substances being sold — and other key terms surrounding the Gas Station Heroin debate.

7-Hydroxymitragynine:

7-hydroxymitragynine is an oxidative byproduct compound found in trace amounts in dried botanical materials (<0.01%) and can be mass produced by chemically altering other natural alkaloids like mitragynine that are found in concentrated extracts. These highly concentrated derivatives, also known as 7, are up to 22 times more potent than morphine.

Botanical Hemp:

Any part of the Cannabis sativa plant, including its seeds and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers — whether growing or not — with a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.

Botanical Kratom:

A natural leaf from Southeast Asia used for centuries to help boost energy, elevate mood and increase productivity,

Intoxicating Hemp:

Intoxicating hemp refers to a class of lab-made substances that act on the same brain cell receptors as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in cannabis. They can have stronger and more dangerous effects than marijuana.

Mitragynine Pseudoindoxyl:

Also known as Pseudo, mitragynine pseudoindoxyl is a synthetic variant of kratom metabolite that binds tightly to opioid receptors and is falsely marketed as natural.

NDEWS:

The National Drug Early Warning System tracks spikes in overdose data and new synthetic drug trends in near-real time.

Nitrous Oxide:

Commonly known as “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is a colorless, slightly sweet-smelling gas and short-acting sedative often used for pain relief during medical procedures. It is also used as a fuel additive and food aerosol propellant.

Semi-Synthetic Alkaloid Products:

Isolated, concentrated and/or semi-synthetic alkaloid products commonly refer to chemically altered formulations of minor kratom alkaloids and metabolites 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (also known as “7” and “Pseudo”) or highly concentrated extracts.

Tianeptine:

Licensed and marketed as an atypical antidepressant with opioid-like effects, tianeptine is available for prescription use in some European, Asian, and South American countries.

If we want to stop this crisis and keep our children safe, we need regulation that safeguards personal freedom, not blanket bans that criminalize whole plant products. Let’s distinguish between the two and deal with the real issue now!

We need to STOP GAS STATION HEROIN – Join the fight!