Published in the Police Chief Magazine - November 2025 Issue
Written by: Jermaine "The Tall Cop" Galloway
Across the nation, law enforcement officers are encountering a troubling pattern: drivers who show unmistakable signs of impairment, such as slurred speech, slowed reaction time, poor coordination, yet test negative for alcohol, cannabis, and controlled substances. Increasingly, the culprits behind these puzzling cases are not illegal narcotics, but legal or unregulated substances sold at gas stations and smoke shops.
These so-called “gas station / over the counter drugs” represent one of the most significant blind spots in modern impaired-driving enforcement and addiction. Substances like Kratom, 7-hydroxymitragynine, Phenibut, and Tianeptine are marketed as supplements, mood enhancers, or focus aids. Their packaging often promises energy or relaxation, but their pharmacological effects can rival those of opioids, benzodiazepines, and other depressants. Worse, most toxicology screens fail to detect them, leaving law enforcement and toxicologists struggling to catch up.
Kratom and 7-Hydroxymitragynine: The “Natural” Opioid
Kratom, derived from the leaves of a Southeast Asian tree, has exploded in popularity as a “natural” solution for pain or opioid withdrawal. Its primary alkaloid, mitragynine, and its more potent metabolite, 7-hydroxymitragynine, act directly on opioid receptors. Though 7-hydroxymitragynine makes up only about 2% of kratom’s alkaloid content, its effects can be exponentially stronger.
At low doses, kratom can act as a stimulant; at higher doses, it becomes a powerful sedative. Drivers under its influence may appear fatigued or drowsy, with delayed responses and impaired coordination mirroring opioid intoxication. Despite these risks, kratom remains legal in many states, and 7-hydroxy derivatives (many times being synthetic substances) are sold over the counter, often under ambiguous branding.
Law enforcement faces a key challenge: many standard toxicology panels do not include kratom or 7-hydroxymitragynine. Without targeted testing, impaired drivers using these substances may appear “clean” in lab results, complicating both roadside enforcement and court proceedings.
Phenibut: The Hidden Depressant
Another gas station drug gaining traction is Phenibut, a synthetic depressant developed in Russia and now sold in the U.S. under various brand names for less than $10 a bottle. Marketed as an anti-anxiety or focus supplement, Phenibut acts as a central nervous system depressant—producing relaxation, disinhibition, and, usually at higher doses.
In roadside encounters, drivers under the influence of Phenibut may present with lethargy, disorientation, and unsteady movements. The danger increases when Phenibut is combined with alcohol, benzos, or opioids, as its effects can amplify impairment dramatically.
Phenibut’s appeal is clear: it’s legal in most states, easy to find, and undetectable on standard drug tests. Its prevalence is alarming. In recent community scans across several Georgia counties, Phenibut was found in nearly every gas station and smoke shop checked. Despite its risks, it remains largely unregulated and absent from most state enforcement policies. Phenibut’s popularity might also increase as more states ban drugs like Kratom and Tianeptine.
One email received from a registered nurse underscores the dangers:
“My 42-year-old brother was found unconscious after using Kratom and Phenibut. He had a psychotic episode when withdrawing, and all his drug tests came back negative. He’s now in inpatient treatment, but his outpatient options are limited—insurance won’t cover treatment without a positive test result.”
CDC Link: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6935a5.htm
Tianeptine: “Gas Station Heroin”
Perhaps the most alarming of the trio is Tianeptine, commonly sold under names like ZaZa, Tianna, or Tia. Although it is used as an antidepressant in some countries, in the U.S. it is marketed as a supplement and abused for its opioid-like euphoria. It acts on the same receptors as morphine and produces similar withdrawal symptoms—sometimes more severe.
Tianeptine’s street nickname, “gas station heroin,” reflects both its potency and its accessibility. Sold openly in convenience stores and online, it has become a favorite among individuals self-medicating for opioid withdrawal. Despite its dangers, it remains legal in most states, though a growing number—including Tennessee, Indiana, Alabama, and North Carolina, to name a few—have begun banning or scheduling it. Like Kratom and Phenibut, Tianeptine is rarely included in standard drug panels, making its detection dependent on specialized tests.
A Road Safety Blind Spot
For traffic safety professionals and law enforcement, these substances represent a serious and evolving threat. Drivers impaired by “gas station drugs” pose the same danger as those using illegal narcotics, but often evade detection due to regulatory gaps and limited testing capabilities.
The issue is not just one of legality; it’s functionality. A driver unable to maintain lane position, focus, or consciousness endangers everyone on the road, regardless of where they bought the substance. Traditional enforcement models, built around controlled substances, must adapt to a landscape where impairment is increasingly caused by legal, unregulated compounds.
The Path Forward
To address this growing threat, agencies and policymakers should prioritize:
- Training and Awareness: Equip officers, DREs, and toxicologists with updated information on emerging substances and observable impairment signs.
- Policy and Protocol Updates: Ensure agency policies explicitly cover legal yet impairing substances like kratom derivatives, Phenibut, and Tianeptine.
- Enhanced Testing: Collaborate with laboratories to expand toxicology panels and develop standardized field and lab testing for these compounds.
- Public Education: Increase community awareness that “legal” does not mean “safe”.
The proliferation of “gas station drugs” like Kratom, Phenibut, and Tianeptine underscores a dangerous misconception: legal does not mean safe. These substances impair judgment, coordination, and reaction-time factors that can turn a routine drive into a fatal event.
As the drug landscape evolves faster than regulation, law enforcement and traffic safety professionals must stay vigilant. Recognizing and responding to this new wave of legal impairing substances is not just a matter of enforcement; it's a matter of saving lives on the roadway.