Shatterproof strongly commends Chairmen Guthrie and Griffith for convening the House Subcommittee on Health hearing, “Policies to Protect Our Communities from Illicit Drug Threats.”
The "fourth wave" of the overdose crisis is defined by its unpredictability; we are no longer facing a single-substance epidemic, but a dynamic, poly-substance environment. As we have argued in state-level testimony and advocacy, our legislative framework must move from reactive to proactive to stay ahead of these emerging "unauthorized consumables."
Addressing the Crisis of "Gas Station Heroin"
Across the country, substances like Tianeptine and Phenibut are marketed with a dangerous "halo of legality." These products, often called “gas station heroin,” offer no medical value and are highly addictive, yet they remain readily available in youth-accessible venues like convenience stores and vape shops.
Federal action via H.R. 7407 (Prohibiting Tianeptine and Other Dangerous Products Act of 2026) is essential to prevent these substances from causing the same devastating impacts we have seen in communities from Maryland to Alabama.
The Escalating Threat of 7-OH and Synthetic Potency
The data regarding concentrated alkaloids is a national alarm bell. In the first seven months of 2025, poison control centers reported nearly 1,700 kratom-related exposures, with 35% of 7-OH cases resulting in severe outcomes.
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Concentrated Potency: Scientific analysis shows that 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine) acts on the same opioid receptors as morphine but can be up to 13 times more potent on a per-molecule basis.
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Regulatory Gaps: While trace amounts exist in natural leaf, the current market features high-potency synthetics sold without standardized dosing or quality control. H.R. 8000 (END 7-OH Act) is a vital tool to address this specific, lethal escalation in the marketplace.
Combating Consumer Deception and Youth Access
The marketing tactics for these substances—flavoring and packaging that mirror energy drinks or dietary supplements—directly echo past public health crises involving synthetic cannabinoids. This pattern of "consumer deception" leads families to believe these products are safe simply because they are sitting on a retail shelf.
By supporting the Stop Pills That Kill Act (H.R. 8005) and the Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act (H.R. 5880), this Committee is targeting the actual infrastructure of the illicit market—the tools used to disguise lethal substances as everyday products.
H.R. 1227 (Alternatives to Pain Act): We must continue to incentivize non-opioid treatments to prevent the cycle of dependency before it begins.
Next Step: A Unified National Response
While individual states are moving to define these as "unauthorized consumable products" to empower local enforcement, state-level wins are only part of the solution. A patchwork of state laws cannot stop the interstate flow of hazardous imports and hyper-concentrated synthetics. We need the unified federal front represented by this legislative package to protect all American families from the next generation of illicit drug threats.
