RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Rapid City’s Legal and Finance Committee discussed banning a dangerous drug nicknamed “Gas Station Heroin.”
The drug, Tianeptine, is sold under many trade names, such as Tianaa, Zaza, and others. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the drug is not approved for any medical use. However, people use it to treat depression and anxiety, as well as opioid use disorder and various types of pain.
The FDA says the problem with this drug is the high rate at which the National Poison Data System reports adverse reactions and unwanted effects, along with difficulty stopping use and overdoses. Based on this, City Attorney Joel Landeen urged the city to take action.
“When I did the research, I was surprised that the state and the federal government hadn’t already classified it as a controlled substance,” Landeen said. “I suspect, in the future, that may happen.”
The Legal and Finance Committee voted to ban the sales of Tianeptine. That ban proposal now goes to the full council Monday night.
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