Getting Help for Gas Station Drugs

Understand the Types, Risks, and Treatment Options for Gas Station Dope

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Are you dealing with substance abuse issues related to the use of gas station drugs? This category of substances has gained popularity in recent years, and despite being sold over the counter, they have the potential to do significant damage to your physical and mental health.

We’ll take a closer look on this page at gas station drugs and the serious health risks they carry. Whether purchased in gas stations, at other stores, or online, these substances can be extremely dangerous.

If you or a loved one is already dealing with an addiction to gas station heroin or any other drugs in this category, call Icarus Wellness & Recovery today to get help. Professional treatment is the best way to confront the problem and turn your life back in a different direction. We are standing by and ready to take your call.

What Are Gas Station Drugs?

As the name suggests, these are substances that are sold in gas stations, convenience stores, and other such facilities. They are legal despite the potentially harmful consequences they can deliver.

On the store shelves, you won’t see them labeled as gas station drugs, of course. They will instead go by other names such as dietary supplements, mood enhancers, or energy boosters. These creative marketing titles can go a long way toward hiding or disguising the damage that these substances can do.

It’s easy for someone to assume that these substances are safe, even though some can be highly addictive. After all, they are legal and sold in stores, so they must be generally recognized as safe – right? Not necessarily. These products are typically unregulated substances with impacts on human health that aren’t always entirely known.

Breaking Down the Most Common Types of Gas Station Drugs

There are now many different types of substances that are generally known as gas station drugs. These are typically substances that aren’t regulated, haven’t been approved for medical use, and wind up being abused by many people who come into contact with them, especially when consumed in high doses.

You may already be familiar with some of these substances and the severe side effects they can produce, but let’s go through a list of some of the most popular substances in this category.

Tianeptine

Tianeptine is a substance that has opioid-like effects and is often referred to as “gas station heroin“. This will commonly be sold as a mood enhancer and it is capable of delivering opioid like effects. For that reason, some with opioid use disorder have started out with tianeptine abuse, or turned to this substance because it was easy to acquire.

One of the biggest issues with tianeptine abuse is the intense cravings and withdrawal symptoms that it can produce. Tianeptine withdrawal is difficult to manage and will often lead the individual right back to more tianeptine products to alleviate the symptoms. This is a classic addiction cycle, even though the substance in question isn’t covered by the Controlled Substances Act.

Tianeptine exposure doesn’t come with the same powerful effects as a traditional pharmaceutical drug, but that doesn’t mean its impacts should be overlooked. Issues like nausea, confusion, and intense cravings have been reported by some individuals who use the substance heavily, which is why some areas have banned tianeptine and are treating it like other opioids.

Kratom

A substance that comes from plants in Southeast Asia, kratom has the potential to offer stimulant and pain-relieving effects. It is commonly sold in gas stations, vape shops, and other locations that are easy to access. The FDA does not regulate kratom in the U.S., and people will use it in an attempt to deal with problems like depression, anxiety, and more.

Chronic kratom users often develop a tolerance and begin to require more and more of the substance just to get the same effect. Patients who develop a dependence on kratom will have withdrawal symptoms when they stop using it, including muscle aches, irritability, and mood swings.

Synthetic Cannabinoids

It is not legal to sell marijuana in gas stations and convenience stores, but synthetic cannabinoid products often can be sold in those locations. You might see these products available with brand names like Spice, K2 or K2 Spice. They are designed to mimic the effects that THC has on the body.

A big part of the danger with synthetic cannabinoids is the unpredictable nature of the products. In some cases, they will be far more potent than natural cannabis and can lead to a range of negative outcomes, including seizures and even death.

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Why Do People Use Gas Station Drugs?

The natural driving force behind the popularity of various gas station drugs is their availability. It’s easy to get these substances from many different stores without a prescription, and they are often sold at a relatively low cost.

Compared with other antidepressants that are prescribed and sold at high prices, substances available in a gas station might seem like an appealing alternative in the moment.

There is also the factor of misleading marketing to consider. The claims made on the packages of these products commonly promote benefits that are vague or exaggerated. It is made to seem like these substances are completely safe, but the number of people admitted to intensive care units after using the drugs would suggest otherwise.

Many Associated Risks and Dangers

Far from harmless, there are countless potential side effects and health risks associated with this type of substance abuse. First is the strong withdrawal symptoms that you might experience. Tianeptine sodium, for example, is powerfully addictive and will lead to serious withdrawal symptoms when use is stopped.

Tianeptine use is so common now in large part due to the fact that it is highly addictive and generates uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

It’s also possible to face an overdose risk when using these substances. Since they aren’t regulated, and no recommended dosages are available, users are largely on their own. If too much is taken at one time, an overdose is possible.

Even if an overdose is avoided, long-term health impacts like organ damage and lasting psychiatric effects are common. As with any type of substance abuse, this is a risky behavior that can also lead to other risky behaviors, such as criminal activity motivated by the need to purchase more of a drug.

Treatment Options for Gas Station Drug Addiction

To step away from the serious health risks that come with using gas station drugs, seek treatment right away. The National Poison Data System can speak to how dangerous these various substances can be, but you don’t have to keep going down this path alone.

As a starting point, going through a medical detox is a great way to get through the intense withdrawal symptoms and clear the first hurdle on the road to recovery. Without the substance in your body, you might become more aware of the seriousness of the situation and be better able to accept treatment in a positive, productive manner.

Treatment options for substance abuse include inpatient and outpatient rehab, therapy and counseling, and more. Working with an experienced group of professionals at a licensed treatment facility is the best way to move forward.

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Don’t Wait Another Day: Get Started With Support Now

Substance abuse, in any form, is dangerous. Don’t assume you are safe because you are “just” using gas station drugs and not illicit street drugs. Any addictive drug can do harm to your health, even if they are found on the shelves in convenience stores.

If you are using controlled substances, take a big step in your life now by calling Icarus Wellness & Recovery to speak to a member of our friendly team. We’ll get to know the issues you are facing and will be happy to develop a customized treatment plan.

Recovery is a journey that takes place one day at a time, and you can make today the starting point. Let’s build a brighter future together, reach out confidentially today.