teen talk

Written by: Jermaine Galloway

August 2026

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.

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.

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 "Tall Cop"

As Halloween approaches, concerns often rise about the risk of fentanyl or other drugs being hidden in children’s candy. At Tall Cop Says Stop™, we want to provide clarity: while the idea of drug-laced candy is a popular urban myth, there are extremely few documented cases of this actually happening. The overwhelming majority of Halloween treats are safe, and most children receive candy from trusted sources like neighbors, schools, and community events.