Health officials and consumers are raising alarms about popular tonics and elixirs marketed as natural remedies, which are leading to opioid-like addictions. These products, often referred to as “gas station heroin,” are readily available at convenience stores across the metro area.
Kayla Jackson, who has witnessed the impact firsthand, shared a friend’s story of addiction. “It sounds like all natural remedies, but it’s very deceptive and very evil in my opinion,” she said. Her friend, who began with one tonic a day, eventually consumed six to eight daily and is now in rehab.
Jackson has reached out to the governor’s office and state lawmakers, urging them to take action similar to past efforts to remove other harmful products from stores. “Push research, regulate it, get it out of our stores,” she said, expressing fear of facing another opioid epidemic…