Hospital warns of tianeptine drug ‘crisis’ in Alabama

WETUMPKA, Ala. (WSFA) – Tianeptine is likely one of the newest unlawful medicine pouring into Alabama. The substance is marketed as a complement that helps with anxiousness, melancholy and vitality ranges. However specialists say the drug has uncomfortable side effects just like heroin.

“As a result of it’s in your mind, it’s such as you’re withdrawing from two or three completely different varieties of medicine all at one time,” mentioned Dr. Melissa Thompson with the Ivy Creek Detox Unit at Elmore Group Hospital.

The hospital is seeing increasingly more individuals struggling with tianeptine withdrawal. It makes individuals anxious, unable to sleep, nauseous, and might even result in dying.

It’s tough to cease the drug from spreading. The physician mentioned it’s authorized in neighboring states.

“Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, you should purchase it at any gasoline station,” Thompson mentioned.

In different states, it’s generally known as Tianna, Tianna Pink and ZaZa.

The physician mentioned a whole lot of the sufferers coming to the ability are college-age college students, like college students from Auburn College.

“Particularly with our proximity to Auburn and the college setting, there’s a whole lot of this dependence that individuals don’t find out about,” Thompson mentioned.

Individuals in professions that require a whole lot of vitality and focus are additionally hooked on the drug.

To assist, the hospital is house to the Ivy Creek Detox Unit, which may help deal with tianeptine withdrawal. Hospital officers mentioned not a whole lot of locations understand how.

“When individuals name in or services name us, they only are at a lack of information of every other locations, and it’s one thing that we now have had some success with right here,” mentioned Heidi Smith with Ivy Creek Healthcare.

The hospital needs individuals to know the dangers and the way to get remedy in case the substance is an excessive amount of to reveal.

“As a result of, like we mentioned, we’re in a disaster with this,” Smith mentioned.

Individuals who need assistance can contact the Ivy Creek Detox Unit at 334-567-4311 at extension 2154.

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