On the latest episode of Last Week Tonight, John Oliver focused on the rise of gas station drugs, the brightly colored bottles and pills sold at US convenience store registers. These unregulated products often contain tianeptine, a drug known as 'gas station heroin,' and promise increased energy, pain relief, or improved sexual performance.
Dangers of Unregulated Substances
'While you might assume they're just snake oil, that's not necessarily true,' said Oliver. 'Some of these drugs can be actively dangerous, presenting risks of addiction just like controlled substances.' One such drug is Zaza, a synthetic product mimicking opioids. After playing a clip of a former addict who consumed 250 Zaza bottles a month, Oliver remarked: 'There is so much that is alarming here. From the notion of a gas station having an opiate aisle, to the fact that that is too many tiny bottles of anything to go through in a month.'
Creative Labeling to Evade Regulation
Oliver noted that these drugs exist in a 'regulatory wild west.' Companies use creative labeling like 'For research purposes only' or 'Not for human consumption,' but the most common tactic is labeling products as 'dietary supplements.' Thanks to a 1994 law, there is no central process for testing or approving supplements before they hit shelves, leaving the FDA and regulators playing catch-up.
Sexual Enhancement Drugs
Oliver turned to sexual enhancement drugs with names like Black Panther, Blue Panther, The Goat, Super Bull, Anaconda, and Boner Bears. 'Boner pills demonstrate pretty effectively the extent to which gas station drugs can be made by just about anyone,' he said, explaining that packaging and pill casings can be freely built online and filled with whatever substances vendors choose. Some pills contain active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis, while others have printer ink and ground-up drywall. The FDA is essentially powerless to stop it.
Kratom and Its Risks
Oliver then focused on kratom, marketed as an energy booster or mood lifter with opioid-like properties. 'Many states have no requirements for labeling, so it can be hard to know exactly what you are buying,' he said. Because these products seem low risk, people may take much more than the recommended dose. After playing a clip of Joe Rogan taking eight kratom pills at once, Oliver responded: 'Joe, what the fuck are you doing?' He warned that kratom can be addictive, as its components interact with the brain like opioids. Some manufacturers synthesize 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), about seven times stronger than morphine. A 2024 report found kratom and 7-OH contributed to at least 4,100 deaths over three years, likely an undercount.
Tianeptine: 'Gas Station Heroin'
The final drug discussed was tianeptine, a 'cognitive enhancer' sold as Zaza, Tianna, and Neptune's Fix. While prescribed as an antidepressant in Europe, the FDA has not approved it for US use. Oliver joked that 'gas station heroin' sounds like a Lana Del Rey song, but the drug has been linked to hundreds of overdoses and deaths, leading Alabama to ban it. 'It is hard to believe that something so immediately dangerous could be sold at the gas station next to the lottery tickets. It would be like finding out that PetSmart sells hand grenades next to the hamsters.'
Calls for Regulation and Support
Oliver noted that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the FDA have discussed these dangers, but he expressed concern about RFK's potential solutions. He concluded: 'If states are going to start banning some of these drugs, that should only happen alongside a plan to help people who cannot suddenly stop using them. If we learned one thing from the opioid crisis, it's that every family fortune is built on the blood of strangers. But if we learned two things, it's that when you take something very strong off the market, not everyone can just quit cold turkey.'
