vape pen

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.

Written by: Officer Jermaine Galloway, the Tall Cop

August 18, 2024

"Give it away, two for one, or let’s make a deal." Remember the old adage that people don’t give away drugs? Well, that’s no longer true. Today, smoke shops, mall kiosks, and even liquor stores are offering samples, giveaways, two-for-one deals, reduced pricing, or simply meeting any price you ask. But why are they doing this? Is it due to inflation or a desire to be good neighbors? The opposite is true—they have too much product. And by "product," I don’t just mean vapes. I’m talking about everything from Kratom (which can be abused similarly to heroin) to various types of vapes and even "legal" over-the-counter drugs that mimic the effects of controlled substances or hallucinogens.

I’ve attached a few photos I’ve taken in various states over the last few months, including one from this week, to illustrate the point. (I was offered Delta 8 "grab" bags.)

Written by: Officer Jermaine Galloway

March 2024