Across the United States, police officers are encountering a troubling pattern: drivers who show unmistakable signs of impairment, such as slurred speech, slowed reaction time, or poor coordination, yet test negative for alcohol, cannabis, and controlled substances. Increasingly, the culprits behind these puzzling cases are not illegal narcotics, but legal or unregulated substances sold at gas stations and smoke shops.

These so-called gas station/over-the-counter drugs represent one of the most significant blind spots in modern impaired-driving enforcement and addiction. Substances like kratom, 7-hydroxymitragynine, phenibut, and tianeptine are marketed as supplements, mood enhancers, or focus aids. Their packaging often promises energy or relaxation, but their pharmacological effects can rival those of opioids, benzodiazepines, and other depressants. Worse, most toxicology screens fail to detect them, leaving officers and toxicologists struggling to catch up.

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