What happens when potentially addictive substances are packaged and sold as everyday wellness products?
For decades, conversations about substance use prevention have focused on familiar dangers: alcohol, prescription medications, and illicit drugs. But today’s landscape is changing, and some emerging risks are appearing in places consumers may least expect them.
Gas stations. Convenience stores. Smoke shops. Online marketplaces.
Products marketed for energy, relaxation, mood enhancement, or pain relief may contain substances with serious health risks. Their packaging can resemble ordinary supplements or wellness products, creating a false sense of security.
The fact that something is available for purchase does not mean it is safe.
Two substances raising significant public health concerns are tianeptine and concentrated 7-
hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).
Tianeptine, sometimes called “gas station heroin,” is not approved by the FDA for medical use in the United States. Despite this, products containing it have been marketed for mood enhancement and other purposes. Reported harms include dependence, withdrawal, seizures, and life-threatening effects.
Concentrated 7-OH is another concern. Related to compounds found in the kratom plant, it acts on opioid receptors and has appeared in products such as tablets, gummies, and drink shots. These concentrated products are different from ordinary kratom leaf products, and the FDA has warned consumers to avoid them.
Not every energy drink, wellness supplement, or kratom product contains these substances. The concern is that certain high-risk products can be marketed in familiar forms that make their dangers less obvious.
Prevention begins with informed decisions, not fear.
Consumers and families should look beyond attractive packaging and marketing promises. Before purchasing an unfamiliar supplement or mood-enhancing product, ask what it contains, whether its ingredients have established safety information, and whether its claims are supported by credible evidence.
Terms such as “natural,” “legal,” “plant-based,” or “available without a prescription” should never be mistaken for guarantees of safety.
Parents, spouses, and friends also benefit from open, nonjudgmental conversations. Asking what someone is using, why they are using it, and whether they understand its effects can create opportunities for education and early intervention.
Consumer responsibility matters. But consumers cannot reasonably be expected to recognize every emerging substance or understand every unfamiliar chemical ingredient without access to reliable information. That is where public education becomes essential.
The behavioral healthcare community has an obligation to do more than respond after a new substance becomes a widespread problem.
We must continually expand our understanding of emerging risks and bring that knowledge into prevention, assessment, treatment, and continuing care.
That means asking more informed questions about products clients may not consider drugs. It means recognizing that routine substance-use screening conversations may overlook unfamiliar supplements, concentrated compounds, or products marketed for everyday wellness.
It also means sharing credible information across professional networks, educating families, and updating staff training as new evidence emerges.
No single clinician, program, or organization can monitor every developing trend independently.
Collaboration among treatment providers, physicians, pharmacists, poison control centers, recovery professionals, and public health agencies is essential.
The goal is not to create alarm. It is to recognize emerging risks early enough to make a difference.
Behavioral healthcare cannot afford to measure its effectiveness solely by how well we respond to an established crisis. We must also consider how effectively we identify warning signs, educate communities, and prevent avoidable harm.
Families deserve clear information. Consumers deserve truthful marketing and meaningful safety protections. Professionals must remain informed and prepared to respond as the landscape changes.
Prevention is not simply warning people about the dangers we already know. It is recognizing the risks emerging around us—and making sure our communities are informed before those risks become crises.
We encourage readers to explore Ruth Ann Rigby’s reporting on tianeptine, inhalant misuse, and other substance-use risks that can go unrecognized by families.
Recommended reading: “Gas Station Heroin,” Huffing, and the Drugs Hiding in Plain Sight: What Every Parent, Spouse, and Friend Needs to Know — Ruth Ann Rigby, SuperTalk Mississippi.
Consumer resources: FDA information on 7-OH | FDA information on tianeptine
Safety note
If someone is unconscious, having trouble breathing, or experiencing another medical emergency after taking an unfamiliar product, call 911 immediately. For suspected poisoning or questions about an exposure in the United States, contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.