The sale and manufacture of so-called “gas station heroin” is now illegal in the First State.
Signed into law on Monday, House Bill 21 (as amended) prohibits making or selling any material, compound, mixture, or preparation containing tianeptine.
According to the Mayo Clinic, tianeptine is a medicine legally available in some European, Asian, and South American countries to treat anxiety, depression, and irritable bowel syndrome.
While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved tianeptine for medical use, it can be incorporated into supplements and “elixir formulations.” It is an ingredient in products such as ZaZa, Tianna Red, and Neptune’s Fix that are commonly sold in small stores, gas stations, and online.
Tianeptine acts similarly to opioid drugs and, when used in large dosages, can cause a high or a feeling of euphoria. However, abusing it can have a host of detrimental impacts. In February 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 20 cases of tianeptine use in New Jersey that led to hospital treatment, including 13 that required intensive care.
Delaware joins at least 12 other states that have already banned tianeptine products.
State Rep. Jeff Hilovsky (R-Long Neck, Oak Orchard), in photo, was among the bipartisan group of legislators sponsoring or co-sponsoring the measure, which cleared the General Assembly with no opposition.
While the bill prohibits the sale and manufacture of tianeptine products, possession of such items remains legal.
