DOVER- The House passed legislation Thursday that would effectively ban the sale of tianeptine, a dangerous substance often referred to as “gas station heroin.” Sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams and Sen. Stephanie Hansen, House Bill 21 would classify tianeptine as a Schedule I controlled substance, making it illegal to sell, possess, or distribute the drug in Delaware.
“Tianeptine’s widespread availability in convenience stores may give people the impression that it’s safe, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. This is a dangerous and unregulated drug that can cause serious harm, particularly to our young people who may not realize the risks,” said Rep. Williams.
“A constituent brought this to my attention after the Charter School of Wilmington and the Poison Control Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia issued a warning, highlighting the dangers of this unregulated drug. It’s time to take the warnings of our public health and safety officials seriously and take this drug off of store shelves.”
Tianeptine is used to treat depression in some European, Asian, and Latin American countries; however, it has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Despite its availability in gas stations and other retail stores, tianeptine has been linked to dangerous opioid-like effects, including addiction, respiratory depression, loss of consciousness, overdose, and even death.
In 2022, the FDA issued a warning regarding the severe health risks associated with the substance and advised consumers to avoid all products containing tianeptine. Earlier this year, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Poison Control Center issued a similar warning, citing several cases related to tianeptine toxicity in Pennsylvania and Delaware between 2023 and 2024, including one death.
“The FDA makes clear that tianeptine has no approved medical usage and frankly has no business being available for sale,” said Sen. Stephanie Hansen, Senate prime sponsor of HB 21.
“Knowing what we now know about the opioid epidemic, I believe we have a responsibility to prevent access to what could be another public health threat to our community.”
Several states have already taken steps to ban or regulate tianeptine. Efforts have also been made at the federal level to regulate the substance.
HB 21 will now go to the Senate for consideration.