Discount Drugs, Designer Vapes, & Deception: What Students Face This Fall

It is back-to-school time, and over-the-counter drugs/legal drugs are cheaper than ever. What does that mean? The drug world is pricing your kids into the market… during a time of inflation where other items are more expensive!

Shown above are a few photos of discounted vapes and other popular street-level products that have now shown up in storefronts. In addition to these popular culture items, backpacks with stash pockets, high-dosing vapes that are marketed with 50K puffs, and more. Like I said earlier, it is back-to-school time, and this is the time to pay attention to new and expanding products.

Written by Jermaine Galloway

Still Trending, Still Overlooked:

7-Hydroxy’s Impact in 2025

A top-trending drug/opioid that most people haven’t heard of… yet it’s a top seller in many communities. 7-Hydroxymitragynine is a drug that has made its way into convenience stores, smoke shops, and street-level drug markets.

So, what is 7-Hydroxymitragynine, also known as 7-OH or simply 7-Hydroxy? It’s an alkaloid that naturally occurs in the kratom plant and is extracted through a semi-synthetic process. 7-Hydroxy is significantly more potent than kratom.

At the street level, kratom has evolved into stronger, underregulated substances that are being sold over the counter. Due to its low public awareness and inconsistent or unconfirmed testing standards, this substance can be difficult to detect. Mitragynine is the main alkaloid in kratom. “Mitragynine is the main alkaloid in kratom. The alkaloid 7-hydroxymitragynine is only a minor kratom constituent, but it is much more potent than mitragynine (Obeng et al., 2020). Mitragynine constitutes about 66% of the total alkaloid content, while 7-hydroxymitragynine makes up just 2% (Hassan et al., 2013).' 7-Hydroxymitragynine is also an active metabolite of mitragynine.

I’m not a chemist, and I don’t have a chemistry degree, as is the case for most people reading this. So, to put it simply: 7-Hydroxy is one of the most popular newer substances being sold, and it comes in many forms, including drinks, pills, and even flavored chewables.

If your state allows the sale of kratom, you can almost guarantee that 7-Hydroxy is being sold alongside it. In fact, I’ve encountered several cases where 7-Hydroxy was sold out due to high local demand.

And now, it’s finally starting to get national attention. In July 2025, the FDA issued warning letters to several companies illegally marketing products containing 7‑Hydroxymitragynine. These include drinks, tablets, gummies, and other products often sold over the counter or online, many of which are not clearly labeled or regulated.

Read the full FDA announcement to learn what this could mean for community-level prevention and regulation.



Read the full article written by Jermaine Galloway HERE:

in the Tall Cop Says Stop blog.

The Cajun Chemist Sounds the Alarm on Legal Psychedelics

Psilocybin is being legalized in more places, but what does that mean for communities? Rebecca Chiasson joins Jermaine to explore the dangers of casual psychedelic use and what prevention advocates need to know.

Listen HERE

We are thrilled to announce a series of BRAND-NEW webinars launching this year! Whether you’re passionate about making your next drug bust, trying to keep up with the world your teen is living in, or simply eager to learn and grow, these sessions are designed to help you reach your goal.

Expect expert insights, actionable tips, and opportunities to engage in meaningful discussions. Mark your calendars because you won’t want to miss:

July 25th, 2025 - Avoiding Detection: Trending and Legal Drugs to Avoid Drug Testing and Detection

August 20th, 2025 - What To Expect With Vapes: 2025 Fall School Year Predictable Vaping Trends

...and more to come!

Taught by: The Tall Cop, $40/pp

Don't forget about our webinar packages, especially if you think many of your colleagues will be taking a few webinars over the next year!

With our packages, you can make a single payment and secure a set number of seats, all while saving 10 to 15% per seat!

Email Jess for more info!

Partnering for Prevention:

Abbott and Tall Cop Tackle Youth Vaping

with FREE Webinar

From the Front Lines:

NoWAC Moments That Mattered

Faces of the Future:

Educate. Enhance. Empower. In Action.

Call for Proposals:

National Emerging Drug Trends Conference 2025

Are you on the frontlines of prevention, enforcement, education, or recovery? Do you have valuable insights on emerging drug trends that communities and professionals need to hear?

 The National Emerging Drug Trends Conference is now accepting speaker proposals for its 4th Annual Conference, happening November 6–7, 2025, in Dallas, Texas!

We are looking for experienced presenters who meet the following criteria:

✅ A leader in your field

✅ Provide real-world strategies, research-driven insights, and community-based solutions

✅ Suggest practical tools that attendees can apply immediately

 Submit your speaker proposal HERE

Be part of the conversation. Help lead the way.

👉 Have questions? Reach out to Jessica—we’re here to help!

Let’s make EDT 2025 unforgettable.

Don't wait to secure your spot for the 4th Annual National Emerging Drug Trends Conference in downtown Dallas.

Take advantage of Early Bird Registration and lock in the discounted rate of $545 before October 11. Join professionals from across the country for two full days of expert-led sessions, networking, and valuable resources you won’t want to miss.

Register HERE today!

Thank you for your continued effort and passion in conducting community scans and educating parents and professional prevention specialists about the importance of “what’s next.” Awareness and Prevention are key to change! - Facebook Review

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and impactful presentation at the IDP Conference. You brought critical insight and knowledge to the table! Your expertise helped ground the day in evidence, accountability, and shared purpose. I’m proud to share that this was our highest-attended IDP Conference to date! A reflection of both the relevance of these topics and the quality of your presentations. I know how busy you are, and I’m truly grateful that you were willing to take the time to share your knowledge with the field. I already heard from many attendees how valuable it was to learn directly from experts across these diverse but interconnected areas. Your contributions sparked important conversations and offered practical takeaways that will support continued growth and consistency across the IDP system. Thank you again for being part of the event and for all that you do to support effective, person-centered approaches to impaired driving. - Wisconsin.

I think Jermaine should be part of this conference every year. 4 hours one year, 8 hours the following year. - 2025 SEPLA Attendee

I had the opportunity to hear you speak last week at the Texas School Safety conference in San Antonio.  It was a treat to see that a fellow USF Don would be one of the keynote speakers… living in Texas, I rarely meet anyone who knows of USF, and definitely not someone who also graduated from there.  I graduated from nursing school in 1994, served in the Army before raising our children in Texas. I’ve been in the school setting for nearly 20 years, the last 13 years as the Director of Health Services.  In this role, I’ve seen an increase in drug behavior in our youth.  We had an anti-vaping campaign in our district prior to the pandemic in 2018-2019, but it seems as though the pandemic exacerbated the drug problem. Prior to your presentation last week, I was unaware of the “legal” drugs out there that mimic so many illegal drugs.  We have seen an increase in seizures with no prior history in our students, and now it is making more sense. I’ve started following you on Facebook and am grateful for your efforts for schools to be aware of what is out there. Again, thank you for all the resources that you put out.  I will definitely share amongst my staff. - Texas ISD

Did you miss the June Edition Mass Release? Click Here