BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WBRC ) - Doctors and local drug recovery groups are warning about a dangerous product known as “gas station heroin.” The drug, tianeptine, was banned in Alabama in 2021, but it is still being sold at some convenience stores in Jefferson County.

Often marketed under names like “Zaza,” “Tiana,” “Red Dawn” and “Neptune Fix,” the product is sometimes displayed near store checkout counters, giving the impression it is harmless. Medical experts stress that tianeptine is a controlled substance and poses serious health risks.

KJ Thomas, who works at a recovery center, described how the drug can trigger relapse in people struggling with addiction.

“They used to be a heroin addict, but then once they went through recovery and the Za Za Red came out as a substitute, they found

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