Written by Rich Grosfelt  August 2026  

Written by: Jermaine Galloway

As we head into a new school year, there is one question I believe schools, parents, and community professionals should be asking:

Could schools begin seeing more kratom this year?

Unfortunately, I believe the answer may be yes.

That does not necessarily mean more young people are suddenly seeking out kratom. Instead, several factors may be coming together that could make kratom more visible, more affordable, and more accessible to young people.

Here are some of the trends I believe professionals should be watching.

1. Price Could Become a Bigger Factor

As states take different approaches to regulating kratom and products containing 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), manufacturers and retailers may adjust their products, pricing, and marketing strategies.

Written by Ben Gillenwater, Tall Cop Speakers Network 

Somebody is going to ask you about this in the first weeks of school. A parent, a principal, a teacher who noticed something. Their kid is talking to an AI chatbot and they want to know whether it is a problem.

Drug Testing: Street Level Impact on Drug Trends

by Jermaine Galloway

Drug testing is one of the most important tools we have for identifying trends from our streets to our schools. The information gathered through testing helps shape treatment, enforcement, education, and prevention efforts. But accurate or not, why does it feel like, at the Boots on the Ground™ level, drug identification and testing from hospitals to laboratories aren't always keeping up with the rapidly changing drug market? The reality is that drug trends evolve much faster than many people realize, and the systems responsible for detecting those drugs might have to play catch-up. That doesn't mean they're doing a poor job, it simply means the challenge has become much more complicated.

Written by Jermaine Galloway June 2026

If you have attended one of my in-person trainings over the last two years, listened to one of my podcasts, or followed recent drug trend reports, you have probably noticed a common theme: psychedelics are becoming one of the most talked-about drug categories in America.

By Tall Cop Jermaine Galloway

Nitrous oxide, commonly called “laughing gas,” is a colorless gas with a long history of legitimate medical and dental use. In hospitals and dentist offices, it is used to help relax patients during procedures because it acts quickly and its effects wear off rapidly. Nitrous oxide falls into the drug category known as inhalants.

Most people associate nitrous oxide with dentistry, but from a “Boots On The Ground” perspective, we are increasingly seeing it show up outside of medical settings. Recreational misuse of nitrous has been around for years, but recently its visibility, accessibility, and popularity appear to be increasing in many communities.

The “Delta-8 of Hallucinogens”? A Closer Look at Amanita Muscaria in Today’s Market

Written By: Officer Jermaine Galloway, the Tall Cop

By Jermaine Galloway March 2026

One of the most valuable things I do at Tall Cop is conduct community scans across the country. These scans allow me to see what is showing up on store shelves, what clerks are selling, and what products are gaining traction before they become widespread.

February 2026

by Jermaine Galloway

Vape devices have evolved into highly customizable, low-cost products delivering unprecedented nicotine doses, making addiction easier, harder to detect, and more common especially among youth.

High in Plain Sight: What Today’s Vape Devices Are Really Delivering

Vape pens remain one of the fastest-evolving drug trends in the United States and worldwide. Their popularity especially, among youth continues to rise, including within school environments. While many people assume vapes contain only nicotine, what we are increasingly seeing is far more complex: extremely high nicotine doses, thousands of inhalations per device, and prices low enough to make them attractive & accessible to young users.

by Jermaine Galloway

January 2026

This is a question parents, educators, and law enforcement professionals hear often and one many people answer subconsciously without realizing it. There is a widespread belief that if a substance is legal, it must be safe. The word “legal” creates a false sense of security, especially when it comes to substances that are easily accessible, openly marketed, and not hidden in the shadows.

The truth is simple and important: "Legal does not mean safe". In fact, there are many legal substances that can be just as dangerous, and in some cases more dangerous, than illegal drugs. That same misconception applies to products labeled as “herbal” or “natural.” These terms are often mistaken for harmless, when in reality they can carry serious risks.