Pallone Raises Concern Over “Gas Station Heroin”

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) sent a series of letters today raising concern over the public health risks associated with increased ingestion of tianeptine, a purported dietary supplement often sold under the label “Neptune’s Fix.” 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public safety alert on tianeptine in November and sent a letter to convenience stores, gas stations, and other organizations earlier this year urging them to stop selling Neptune’s Fix and other products with tianeptine. Then, spurred by a January 2024 FDA notice urging a voluntary recall of these products, Neptune Resources, issued a nationwide recall of three of its products. 

Pallone wrote to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to urge further action to prevent further harm to public health. The Democratic Committee leader also wrote to the National Association of Convenience Stores and the Council for Responsible Nutrition to request a briefing on how they are protecting consumers from dangerous products. He is particularly concerned after seeing reports that between June and November 2023, the New Jersey Poison Control Center received reports of 20 cases of tianeptine ingestion that resulted in severe effects and 38 reports of tianeptine exposures.  

“Despite the voluntary recall, I remain concerned that these products and other similar ones may still be on stores shelves, jeopardizing the health of our communities, and particularly our kids,” Pallone wrote to HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “As the Administrator who oversees our Poison Control Centers, I urge you to take action to support our Poison Control Centers more widely in responding to the increase of calls.”

“Harmful tianeptine-containing products that are regularly sold at gas stations have resulted in a dramatic spike in the number of calls to the New Jersey Poison Control Center in recent months,” Pallone wrote to the National Association of Convenience Stores. “Given your organization’s visibility into the operation of gas stations and convenience stores nationally, I write to understand the steps you are taking to abide by a manufacturer’s product recall earlier this year and urgently ensure these harmful products are removed from your members’ shelves.”

According to FDA, tianeptine is a “potentially dangerous substance that is not FDA-approved for any medical use but is illegally sold with claims to improve brain function and treat anxiety, depression, pain, opioid use disorder and other conditions.” Tianeptine mimics the sedative effects of opioids, which has led to its “Gas Station Heroin” nickname. 

According to press reports, people quickly develop a tolerance to tianeptine, which can result in increased use and has driven increased dosages resulting in an alarming spike in the number of calls to poison control centers across the country. 

To date, at least 12 states have banned the sale of tianeptine all together.

Read the full letters below:

Health Resources and Services Administration

National Association of Convenience Stores

Council for Responsible Nutrition 

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