TRENTON, N.J. – The New Jersey Senate has unanimously passed legislation sponsored by Senator Doug Steinhardt that would classify tianeptine — a substance often referred to as “gas station heroin” — as a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance, banning its sale across the state.
The bill, S-729, responds to a growing number of poisoning cases linked to tianeptine, a compound with opioid-like effects that has been sold in convenience stores and online under the guise of a dietary supplement. State health officials and federal regulators have warned that misuse of the drug can lead to addiction, overdose, and other serious health complications.
Steinhardt said the legislation aims to stop the spread of the substance before it becomes a larger public health crisis. “The unethical marketing tactics used by companies to promote a dangerous substance like tianeptine is giving a false sense of security to those looking for solutions to their mental and physical ailments,” Steinhardt said. “But with this bill, we could remove these dangerous products from our retail shelves and eliminate the concerns before they even start.”
According to the New Jersey Department of Health, the state’s Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES) has identified multiple poisoning cases involving tianeptine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also tracked an increase in adverse reaction reports nationwide over the past two decades, noting that tianeptine binds to opioid receptors and can mimic the effects of narcotics.
Public health experts have raised concerns about the availability of tianeptine in gas stations and online markets, where it is often marketed as a supplement to enhance mood or relieve anxiety without disclosing its addictive properties.
If enacted, Steinhardt’s measure would make possession or sale of tianeptine subject to the same criminal penalties as other Schedule II substances, allowing state and local authorities to remove it from retail circulation.
Senator Doug Steinhardt’s bill to classify tianeptine as a Schedule II drug passes the Senate, aiming to eliminate the so-called “gas station heroin” from New Jersey stores.