New Study Raises Red Flags About Ingredients Found in Gas Station Heroin
The Stop Gas Station Heroin coalition is sounding the alarm after reviewing a new animal study commissioned by CBD American Shaman, a Missouri-based company that sells '7' products in stores across the country.
The study, which tested the effects of increasing doses of two lab-made substances — '7' (7-hydroxymitragynine) and 'Pseudo' (mitragynine pseudoindoxyl) — was funded to support the company's bid for FDA drug approval. But the research methods and results raise serious red flags for consumers of Gas Station Heroin.
First, a clear conflict of interest occurred in conducting this study: CBD American Shaman has been illegally selling 7 products as dietary supplements since 2022, and the research was released by Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART), a group with a financial stake in 7 and Pseudo products.
Second, the study suggests these drugs may be far more dangerous than their labels imply: CBD American Shaman tells consumers that 7.5 milligrams, or half a tablet, is a safe serving. But based on the study's own data, that amount may be more than 25 times higher than what would be considered safe for human consumption.
Using standard FDA methods to translate the effects seen in dogs to humans, Stop Gas Station Heroin estimates that just 0.3 milligrams could cross the threshold for risk. Yet many consumers of these products are unknowingly ingesting significantly greater amounts. Moreover, the study points to clear risks of addiction and dependency with misuse.
'These are not natural products. They are chemically altered, unapproved pharmaceutical drugs being marketed as herbal remedies,' said Matthew Lowe, Executive Director of Stop Gas Station Heroin. 'You can't just slap a 'dietary supplement' label on a drug and skip the safety trials.'
CBD American Shaman and other purveyors of Gas Station Heroin have marketed 7 and Pseudo products as supplements formulated to cure, treat, and mitigate disease — namely, chronic pain and opioid use disorder — even though the products have never been approved by the FDA for any medical use.
If companies like CBD American Shaman want to sell these substances legally, they must demonstrate the drugs' safety and effectiveness through a rigorous series of clinical trials and submit the results to the FDA as part of the New Drug Approval process. Until then, Stop Gas Station Heroin is calling for the immediate removal of these synthetic street drugs from store shelves.
About Stop Gas Station Heroin
Stop Gas Station Heroin is a national coalition that aims to educate consumers about harmful synthetic drugs and advocate for smart regulation that distinguishes between legitimate, natural botanicals and dangerous, synthetic drugs, combined with enforcement of current federal laws around unapproved drugs. To learn more, navigate to stopgasstationheroin.com.
Media Contact
Colby Wilson
[email protected]
###
SOURCE: Stop Gas Station Heroin
Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire
https://app.eznewswire.com/news/new-study-raises-red-flags-about-ingredients-found-in-gas-station-heroin
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
4 hours ago
- Business Insider
The under-the-radar injections people are taking to build muscle this summer — including the 'Wolverine' shot
Peptide injections are soaring in popularity for fitness and longevity. They're marketed as a "natural" supplement for muscle-building, fat loss, recovery, and more. The FDA has been cracking down on peptide sellers, and experts say some caution is warranted. People who want to feel younger, look fitter, or perhaps slough off a little layer of belly fat have been turning to an increasingly popular kind of treatment — one you can get without a prescription. They've got obscure names like BPC-157, tesamorelin, and cerebrolysin. All it takes is a tiny needle and a little clear vial filled with injectable molecules. Welcome to the world of peptides. "Absolutely everybody's asking for it, the field is popping," Dr. Florence Comite, a longevity doctor who serves concierge medicine clients in New York City, told Business Insider. The peptide landscape is so large that it almost defies definition. The prescription drugs Ozempic and Mounjaro, often used for weight loss, are peptides. So is insulin. There are peptides in skin creams, hair products, and high-end serums marketed to women to reduce fine lines and stimulate collagen. The wildly popular fitness supplement creatine? Also a peptide. Then, there are the gym bro shots, said to boost muscle, burn fat, stimulate testosterone, and aid recovery. Demand for peptide injections — something that biohackers and longevity-seekers have already been quietly using in the shadows for decades — is booming. Patients in pockets of the country saturated with peptides, like Beverly Hills, San Diego, Silicon Valley, and Manhattan are increasingly asking their doctors: "should I try peptides?" Many physicians aren't sure what to say because there isn't a ton of great evidence around about how much peptides can really do. Plus, the FDA has been cracking down on peptide compounders in recent years. They worry that the hype is outpacing good evidence. How peptides boost your body Unlike most pills that doctors prescribe, peptides live in a more slippery area, between drug and bodily substance. A peptide is a chain of organic compounds — specifically, amino acids — that stimulate natural processes. Depending on which amino acids a peptide is made of, and how it is used, the molecule can have all kinds of impacts on how our hormones operate. Peptides can improve fertility in both men and women, tamp down inflammation, remove dangerous visceral belly fat, or help build muscle. Others are thought to help improve sleep quality, even possibly improve brain health. "What's great about peptides is that they mimic the body," said Comite, who has been working with peptides since she was a research fellow at the National Institutes of Health over 30 years ago. Since most peptides are too fragile to be formulated as pills, they are often packaged as a clear liquid in a little vial. Users learn to inject their peptides using a very fine, short needle, right at home. The popularity of peptides has soared on their reputation as ostensibly "natural" products. The idea being that, unlike other drugs or steroids, peptides are a safer choice because they're just stimulating your body to do its own thing. Taking growth hormones, for example, comes with a suite of undesirable potential side effects, like an increased risk of cancer and type 2 diabetes. What if you could just take a peptide that would stimulate your own growth hormone to make you stronger, leaner, and more energetic? "The theory is that even if you use a growth hormone stimulating peptide, your body's only going to be able to make so much growth hormone," Dr. Sajad Zalzala, a longevity physician and one of the cofounders of AgelessRx, said. "Kind of like a check valve already in place. Again, that's the theory." The peptides gym bros take to get chiseled muscles One darling peptide of gym bros and longevity fiends alike is a substance called BPC-157. It's known as the "Wolverine" shot for its perceived ability to heal you up and regenerate your body real fast like the Marvel character, Logan, after a big fight. B-P-C stands for "body protection compound." BPC-157 was first derived from stomach juices. It's being investigated to treat inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn's and ulcerative colitis. But the reason that athletes like it is because it's thought to reduce inflammation and improve blood flow — and perhaps do even more. There are a few other super popular peptides: Tesamorelin, an injectable peptide, is prescribed to HIV patients to reduce excess belly fat. Sermorelin is supposed to help with sleep and recovery. CJC-1295 binds to growth hormone receptors in the body, and people often take it alongside impamorelin, which stimulates the hypothalamus. The two in tandem are said to deliver better muscle gains. On Reddit and YouTube people share how they "stack" different peptides like this, taking multiple different kinds with the goal of boosting the effects of each. Peptide fans get their shots at clinics and med spas — or, for less money, online. Increasingly, people are ordering peptides that are labeled "for research only," meaning they are supposed to be used by lab workers for experimentation, and were never meant to be put into human bodies. That's partly because the FDA crackdown on peptides has intensified in recent years, just as pharmaceutical compounding (a sort of acceptable way to get knock off medications) has surged in popularity, with people seeking cheaper versions of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro. At the beginning of 2022, the FDA had a list of four peptides that they said "may present significant safety risks" and should not be compounded. By the end of 2023, there were 26. Comite thinks the FDA crackdown is a shame. She is finding it harder and harder to source compounded liquid BPC-157. She often uses a patch form of BPC-157 on herself, placing it over sore areas or injuries. Recently, she tore a calf muscle, so she's been using it there, but she also just likes how taking a little bit of it keeps her active and moving. "I use it almost every day," she said. "It's amazing for joints and everything — at a very tiny dose." Zalzala, who doesn't usually prescribe peptides, ordered some topical BPC-157 recently when his wife had a knee injury. "My wife says it works," he said, though he cautioned that it's hard to really know if that's true without more proper research. Bracken Darrell, the CEO of VF Corporation and one of Comite's patients, is also a BPC-157 convert. A self-proclaimed "basketball nut," he's on the court about three days a week. On the days when he doesn't pick up a ball, he's out cross-training on a bike or lifting weights. So when he tore his meniscus about four months ago, he was worried. Under Comite's supervision, he started taking liquid BPC-157 about three to four times a week. He told BI it was "weird" at first, learning to inject the needle into an area of skin near his knee. But, pretty soon, it was just part of his routine. "I believe it helped a lot, but it's hard to know for sure," he said. "There are people with a severely torn meniscus who don't ever play basketball again, and I'm back — I certainly wouldn't conclude that's because I'm taking BPC-157, but at a minimum it didn't hurt. And it sure seems like it helps." Proceed with caution, doctors say Even longevity doctors who prescribe and use peptides regularly agree that some folks are overdoing it, and that could be dangerous. "Proceed with caution, because you have to know the source and you have to know it's active," Comite said. "It's not like Lowe's or Home Depot where you can get stuff and you can fix the plumbing." In reality, the evidence for peptides is still murky. There are no big, randomized clinical trials like what we have for prescription drugs or vaccines. The current hype is based on anecdotal evidence, a few small human studies from decades ago, and rodent studies. "People wanna take the peptides because they're not from big pharma, they're not mainstream medicine, they gotta be better than those cockamamie doctors," Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist and longevity expert, said recently on the Dax Shepard podcast. "Where's the data?" For people who are using peptides, experts shared two pieces of advice: Comite urges patients to start slow. A common mistake people who are dosing themselves make is thinking that "if a little bit is good, then a lot must be better," she said. That's not the case. "Taking mega doses of tesmorelin along with testosterone causes your organs to overgrow," Comite said. Sometimes she'll see a toned gymgoer with a potbelly, and wonder whether that's due to an enlarged liver or spleen. Darrell recommends testing your peptides with an independent lab so you know what you're getting is both real and uncontaminated. Zalzala says his company started thinking about offering peptides a few years back, due to consumer demand, but they haven't yet. There are just so many peptides out there, and it's hard to tell which might be the very best. Some of the most research-backed ways to have an impact on your longevity and fitness are still the simplest anyway: eat decent amounts of fiber and protein regularly, work out — at least a couple sessions with weights each week, and cut back (or ideally, eliminate) liquid sugar in your diet like juice and soda.
Business Insider
10 hours ago
- Business Insider
FDA investigating death of child who received Sarepta's Elevidys
The U.S. FDA is investigating the death of an 8-year-old boy who received Elevidys, a Sarepta (SRPT) Therapeutics gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The death occurred on June 7, 2025. The FDA has requested and received voluntary suspension of product distribution as it investigates the safety concerns. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>>
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sarepta Therapeutics Provides Clarifying Statement on ELEVIDYS
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 25, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SRPT), the leader in precision genetic medicine for rare diseases, today issued the following statement: Just before 6:00 p.m. ET today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a press release announcing an investigation into the death of an eight-year-old Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne) patient who had received ELEVIDYS (delandistrogene moxeparvovec) gene therapy. The death of this patient was deemed unrelated to treatment with ELEVIDYS. As reported yesterday by Naomi Kresge at Bloomberg News: Roche Holding AG says the recent death of a patient in Brazil who had been treated with gene therapy Elevidys for Duchenne muscular dystrophy is unrelated to the treatment. * The boy wasn't a clinical trial participant; reporting physician assessed his death as being unrelated to the gene therapy, Roche says in statement* Death was reported to health authorities* Roche, which markets Sarepta's Duchenne treatment Elevidys outside the US, declines to comment on the boy's age or details of the case Sarepta reported this event to FDA on June 18, 2025, via the FDA's postmarketing electronic database, FAERS. At Sarepta, patient safety and well-being are always our top priority. We are committed to upholding the highest safety standards for all of our therapies, and do so in accordance with applicable law and commitment to full regulatory transparency. ELEVIDYS is the only approved gene therapy for families and children devastated by Duchenne, a rare, progressive and ultimately fatal disease. We remain committed to working closely with the FDA to ensure that all decisions are grounded in science and the best interests of patients, considering the compelling need of these families to access disease-modifying therapy. About ELEVIDYS (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl)ELEVIDYS (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl) is a single-dose, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene transfer therapy for intravenous infusion designed to address the underlying genetic cause of Duchenne muscular dystrophy – mutations or changes in the DMD gene that result in the lack of dystrophin protein – through the delivery of a transgene that codes for the targeted production of ELEVIDYS micro-dystrophin in skeletal muscle. ELEVIDYS is indicated for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in individuals at least 4 years of age. For patients who are ambulatory and have a confirmed mutation in the DMD gene For patients who are non-ambulatory and have a confirmed mutation in the DMD gene. The DMD indication in non-ambulatory patients is approved under accelerated approval based on expression of ELEVIDYS micro-dystrophin in skeletal muscle. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial(s). IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION CONTRAINDICATION: ELEVIDYS is contraindicated in patients with any deletion in exon 8 and/or exon 9 in the DMD gene. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS:Infusion-related Reactions: Infusion-related reactions, including hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis, have occurred during or up to several hours following ELEVIDYS administration. Closely monitor patients during administration and for at least 3 hours after the end of infusion. If symptoms of infusion-related reactions occur, slow, or stop the infusion and give appropriate treatment. Once symptoms resolve, the infusion may be restarted at a lower rate. ELEVIDYS should be administered in a setting where treatment for infusion-related reactions is immediately available. Discontinue infusion for anaphylaxis. Acute Serious Liver Injury: Acute serious liver injury has been observed with ELEVIDYS, and administration may result in elevations of liver enzymes (such as GGT, GLDH, ALT, AST) or total bilirubin, typically seen within 8 weeks. Patients with preexisting liver impairment, chronic hepatic condition, or acute liver disease (e.g., acute hepatic viral infection) may be at higher risk of acute serious liver injury. Postpone ELEVIDYS administration in patients with acute liver disease until resolved or controlled. Prior to ELEVIDYS administration, perform liver enzyme test and monitor liver function (clinical exam, GGT, and total bilirubin) weekly for the first 3 months following ELEVIDYS infusion. Continue monitoring if clinically indicated, until results are unremarkable (normal clinical exam, GGT, and total bilirubin levels return to near baseline levels). Systemic corticosteroid treatment is recommended for patients before and after ELEVIDYS infusion. Adjust corticosteroid regimen when indicated. If acute serious liver injury is suspected, consultation with a specialist is recommended. Immune-mediated Myositis: In clinical trials, immune-mediated myositis has been observed approximately 1 month following ELEVIDYS infusion in patients with deletion mutations involving exon 8 and/or exon 9 in the DMD gene. Symptoms of severe muscle weakness, including dysphagia, dyspnea, and hypophonia, were observed. Limited data are available for ELEVIDYS treatment in patients with mutations in the DMD gene in exons 1 to 17 and/or exons 59 to 71. Patients with deletions in these regions may be at risk for a severe immune-mediated myositis reaction. Advise patients to contact a physician immediately if they experience any unexplained increased muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, including dysphagia, dyspnea, or hypophonia, as these may be symptoms of myositis. Consider additional immunomodulatory treatment (immunosuppressants [e.g., calcineurin-inhibitor] in addition to corticosteroids) based on patient's clinical presentation and medical history if these symptoms occur. Myocarditis: Acute serious myocarditis and troponin-I elevations have been observed following ELEVIDYS infusion in clinical trials. If a patient experiences myocarditis, those with pre-existing left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) impairment may be at higher risk of adverse outcomes. Monitor troponin-I before ELEVIDYS infusion and weekly for the first month following infusion and continue monitoring if clinically indicated. More frequent monitoring may be warranted in the presence of cardiac symptoms, such as chest pain or shortness of breath. Advise patients to contact a physician immediately if they experience cardiac symptoms. Preexisting Immunity against AAVrh74: In AAV-vector based gene therapies, preexisting anti-AAV antibodies may impede transgene expression at desired therapeutic levels. Following treatment with ELEVIDYS, all patients developed anti-AAVrh74 antibodies. Perform baseline testing for presence of anti-AAVrh74 total binding antibodies prior to ELEVIDYS administration. ELEVIDYS administration is not recommended in patients with elevated anti-AAVrh74 total binding antibody titers greater than or equal to 1:400. Adverse Reactions: The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) reported in clinical studies were vomiting, nausea, liver injury, pyrexia, and thrombocytopenia. Report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit or call 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Sarepta Therapeutics at 1-888-SAREPTA (1-888-727-3782). For further information, please see the full Prescribing Information. About Sarepta TherapeuticsSarepta is on an urgent mission: engineer precision genetic medicine for rare diseases that devastate lives and cut futures short. We hold a leadership position in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne) and are building a robust portfolio of programs across muscle, central nervous system, and cardiac diseases. For more information, please visit or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook. Forward-Looking StatementsThis statement contains "forward-looking statements." Any statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "will," "may," "intend," "prepare," "look," "potential," "possible" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to our future operations, research and development programs, clinical trials and ELEVIDYS. Actual results could materially differ from those stated or implied by these forward-looking statements as a result of such risks and uncertainties. Known risk factors include the following: our products or product candidates may be perceived as insufficiently effective, unsafe or may result in unforeseen adverse events; our products or product candidates may cause undesirable side effects that result in significant negative consequences following any marketing approval; the possible impact of regulations and regulatory decisions by the FDA and other regulatory agencies on our business; and those risks identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as well as other SEC filings made by the Company, which you are encouraged to review. Any of the foregoing risks could materially and adversely affect the Company's business, results of operations and the trading price of Sarepta's common stock. For a detailed description of risks and uncertainties Sarepta faces, you are encouraged to review the SEC filings made by Sarepta. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained herein. Sarepta does not undertake any obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements based on events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by law. Internet Posting of InformationWe routinely post information that may be important to investors in the 'For Investors' section of our website at We encourage investors and potential investors to consult our website regularly for important information about us. Source: Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. View source version on Contacts Investor Contact: Ian Estepan617-274-4052iestepan@ Media Contacts: Tracy Sorrentino617-301-8566tsorrentino@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
