Gas Station Drugs: Unregulated Supplements Pose Growing Health Risks

John Oliver’s May 2026 *Last Week Tonight* episode highlighted a rise in “gas station drugs” – pills and bottles sold at U.S. convenience stores. Products marketed as dietary supplements, research-only items, or “not for human consumption” include the synthetic opioid Zaza, sexual-enhancement pills with animal-themed names, kratom-based energy boosters, and the antidepressant tianeptine sold as Tianna or Neptune’s Fix.

The Guardian

A 1994 amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act eliminated pre-market testing for dietary supplements, leaving the FDA without a central approval process. Manufacturers label products as “dietary supplements,” bypassing safety reviews. The FDA says its enforcement capacity is limited, and many states lack labeling rules for substances such as kratom.

The Guardian

A 2024 report linked kratom and the synthetic 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) to at least 4,100 deaths over three years, likely undercounted due to detection limits. Tianeptine, approved as an antidepressant in Europe, has caused hundreds of overdoses and deaths in the U.S.; Alabama has banned it. Other gas-station pills have been found to contain prescription erectile-dysfunction drugs, printer ink, or ground-up drywall, raising toxicity concerns.

The Guardian

The FDA says the 1994 law creates a ‘regulatory wild west’ and plans to cooperate with states on enforcement. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has discussed product dangers with FDA officials, urging scrutiny. Consumer-advocacy groups claim ‘dietary supplement’ labeling misleads buyers, and health professionals warn that easy access to opioid-like substances at gas stations may drive addiction.

The Guardian

A former addict reported consuming 250 Zaza bottles in a single month, illustrating extreme usage. Podcast host Joe Rogan claimed to have taken eight kratom pills at once, far above the recommended two-pill dose, prompting Oliver’s on-air rebuke.

The Guardian

The 2024 report cites 4,100 deaths linked to kratom and 7-OH, but Oliver noted that “there is every chance that that is an undercount,” indicating limited detection. Data on adulterated sexual-enhancement pills remain sparse.

The Guardian

• “While you might assume they’re just snake oil, that’s not necessarily true,” — John Oliver, *Last Week Tonight*

The Guardian

• “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.” — John Oliver

The Guardian

• “Joe, what the fuck are you doing?” — John Oliver

The Guardian

• “It is hard to believe that something so immediately dangerous could be sold at the gas station next to the lottery tickets.” — John Oliver

The Guardian

State legislators are considering bans on specific compounds, while public-health officials call for coordinated treatment programs for users facing withdrawal. Ongoing dialogue between the FDA and policymakers, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., may shape future regulatory reforms aimed at closing the supplement loophole.

The Guardian