"Some of these drugs can be actively dangerous, presenting risks of addiction just like controlled substances. One such drug is the red-bottled Zaza, a synthetic product which mimics the effects of opioids and is sold as a legal alternative to narcotics in gas stations."
"These drugs exist in a regulatory wild west. Many of the companies try to evade regulation with creative labeling, marketing them with language like 'For research purposes only' or 'Not for human consumption'."
"Thanks to a 1994 law, there is no central process whereby products calling themselves supplements are tested or approved before they hit the shelves. All of which means that the FDA and other regulators are playing an impossible game of catchup."
"Boner pills demonstrate pretty effectively the extent to which the market for these unregulated drugs has exploded, with names suggesting wild animals and untamed experiences."
Gas station drugs, sold in convenience stores, promise benefits like energy and pain relief but often contain tianeptine, known as gas station heroin. These products can be dangerous and addictive, with examples like Zaza, which mimics opioids. Many consumers seek these drugs for recreational use or self-treatment. The lack of regulation allows companies to market them creatively, often labeling them as dietary supplements. This regulatory gap leaves the FDA struggling to keep up with the proliferation of these potentially harmful substances.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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