Niles bans sale of tianeptine, ‘gas station heroin;’ no shops in village sell it

Richard Requena, Chicago Tribune
·2 min read

The Niles Village Board banned the sale and distribution of products with tianeptine, a drug the police chief referred to as “gas station heroin” because of its availability in convenience stores, at its Board of Trustees meeting March 26.

However, when the police department checked stores in the village, it reported it did not find any that sold tianeptine products.

Based on a warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Niles Police Department recommended the village ban products containing tianeptine, a drug not approved by the FDA and illegally marketed as a drug that improves brain function and treats anxiety, depression, pain, opioid use disorder, and other conditions, according to the FDA.

The Village Board voted to pass an ordinance banning the sale, distribution and possession of tianeptine with intent to sell. The ban would be punishable by a village ordinance violation with a fine of $150 per occurrence.

“I just want to say thank you very much to Trustee (Dean) Strzelecki, our (Police) Chief Luis Tigera, and the Niles Police Department for looking out for youth right now. It’s one more way they keep us safer,” said Mayor George Alpogianis.

Tigera said Alpogianis requested the police department to investigate if products with tianeptine were being sold in Niles in January. “We never heard of the product,” said Tigera, “but as Trustee Strzelecki indicated, it’s called ‘gas station heroin.'” Tigera said the department visited gas stations, convenience stores and vape shops in Niles and did not find products with tianeptine.

“(Tianeptine) has some opiates in it,” continued Tigera. “It’s addictive and possesses potential for abuse… they’re finding youths that are drinking this as a potential high.”

According to the FDA, reports of severe side effects involving tianeptine are increasing, with poison control center cases involving the drug increased from 11 cases between 2000 and 2013 to 151 cases in 2020 alone.

In February the FDA announced a company that uses tianeptine as an active ingredient pulled its items with flavors including cherry, lemon, and chocolate vanilla. On March 19, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin urged federal organizations to help stop the spread of tianeptine.