In the United States, tianeptine is not an approved medication. Tianeptine was found and patented by French medical professionals in the 1960s. It has effects that go beyond elevating mood, despite being added to antidepressants by doctors all over the world. It is thought to produce a morphine-like state of consciousness making users feel at ease and content, which contributes to the drug's addictiveness.

Nearly three million Americans suffer from opioid addiction, including morphine, according to the National Library of Medicine. One of the reasons Tianeptine is so popular is because it b...