|
August 2026
Tall Cop Boots On The Ground™ Newsletter
August: A Lot to Know, A Lot to Watch for!
August is a busy time of year for professionals, families, educators, and law enforcement as communities prepare for a new school year. We have packed this month’s Boots on the Ground™ Newsletter with information, insights, and resources and this month, we have not one, but three featured articles!
My August article, “Kratom in Schools: Why This School Year Could Be Different,” shares my thoughts on why schools may see more kratom this year. I take a closer look at what is changing and, most importantly, the why behind this trend.
We are also excited to feature a guest article from Ben Gillenwater, titled “AI Chatbots and Kids: What They Are, What They Do to Kids, and What to Watch For.” This is a must-read for parents, educators, prevention professionals, and safety experts. Thank you, Ben, for contributing to this month’s newsletter! If you would like to learn more from Ben or bring him to your organization, contact Marla at Tall Cop Says Stop™ to discuss booking opportunities.
I recently had the opportunity to get away overseas. But you know me I couldn’t just relax without doing a few Boots on the Ground™ scans along the way! What I found caught my attention. I saw some substances that we are not currently seeing in the United States, as well as several trends that looked remarkably familiar. I even found a synthetic substance that I have not “yet” seen during my scans in the U.S. What really caught my attention was that its packaging and presentation fit right in with products I already see here except it would test differently, and it was being sold in a vape!
I share more about this experience in “Do Other Countries Have the Same Drug Trends We See in the United States?”
We are also continuing to see a great response to the Tall Cop Boots on the Ground™ Drug Resource Guide. If you haven’t ordered yours yet, now is a great time to get this resource into the hands of your team.
Order your Drug Resource Guide Here!
And finally, we are just three months away from meeting in Dallas! The Tall Cop Emerging Drug Trends Conference is quickly approaching. Now is the time to register and reserve your hotel room. With three days of education, CEUs, nationally recognized speakers, and networking with professionals from across the country, this is THE conference to attend for professionals who want to stay ahead of emerging drug trends.
We hope to see you in Dallas!
Stay safe,
Officer Jermaine Galloway
Tall Cop Says Stop™
| | | |
Conference Information
The 5th Annual Tall Cop Emerging Drug Trends Conference will be held on Thursday, November 12, and Friday, November 13, 2026, in downtown Dallas, Texas. The conference is an exclusive drug education and enforcement conference highlighting an array of superior speakers with expert knowledge.
Pre-Conference Sessions!
We are excited to offer a full day of sessions, brought to you by our Tall Cop Speakers Network. Click here for the agenda. The pre-conference on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, is optional, but it does provide an additional 6 hours of credit.
The pre-conference sessions are included with your registration fee, but space is limited, and pre-registration is required.
| |
|
Thank you to our 2026 Tall Cop
Emerging Drug Trends Conference sponsors!
We are proud to partner with organizations committed to education, prevention, and community safety. Spaces still available!
Special thanks to:
Interested in joining this outstanding group of partners?
Spaces still available! Visit our sponsorship page to learn more about available opportunities.
Put your organization in great company - become a partner today!!
| | |
What makes a 7-OH product look “premium”? In this educational short, Tall Cop Says Stop™ breaks down the package, including the milligram amounts, actual serving size, and how the product is presented to consumers.
We’ll also look at the use of flavors and youth-oriented marketing strategies and why professionals need to understand what they are seeing on these packages.
*Note this package was found littered on the ground outside a smoke shop. Brand name has been blurred.
"You Can't Stop What You Don't Know"™
| |
Do Other Countries Have the Same Drug Trends We See in the United States?
From the Road with Tall Cop Jermaine Galloway
One question I am asked regularly is, “Do other countries have the same substance trends we are seeing in the United States?” Recently, I had the opportunity to explore that question firsthand while conducting Boots on the Ground™ scans in several European countries, including Spain, France, England, and Portugal. I spent time visiting different types of stores, looking at products, packaging, marketing, terminology, and the types of substances being sold in everyday retail environments. I wanted to see how closely the trends I encounter in the United States are reflected in other countries.
Some of the trends are remarkably similar, while others are unique to the laws, culture, availability, and retail environment of each country. During my international scans, I saw products and categories that will be very familiar to professionals in the United States, including products marketed around cannabis, nicotine, vaping, supplements, and other substances. I also encountered products and marketing approaches that are not as common in the United States. I even found a synthetic substance that I have not “yet” seen during my scans in the U.S. What really caught my attention was that its packaging and presentation fit right in with products I already see here, except it would test differently, and it was being sold in a vape! More details on that product are coming soon.
What stood out most was not necessarily that the exact same products were everywhere, but that the patterns were often familiar.
Across the countries I visited, I continued to see many of the same characteristics that can make emerging products attractive to consumers. Products were often packaged to look appealing, offered in flavors, marketed with eye-catching branding, and positioned in ways that can make them appear less concerning than they actually are. The retail environments were also important. Just as we have seen gas stations, convenience stores, vape shops, smoke shops, and online retailers become part of the emerging drug landscape in the United States, other countries are dealing with their own versions of products appearing in accessible, everyday marketplaces.
What I Saw During My Scans
While every country had its own unique landscape, several common themes stood out:
-
Vaping continues to evolve. Devices, flavors, packaging, and the substances being used in vaping products continue to change.
-
Cannabis-related products are expanding. The types of products available and the way they are marketed vary considerably from country to country.
-
Retail environments matter. Products connected to substance use are increasingly appearing in places where consumers may not expect to find them.
-
Packaging and marketing are powerful. Bright colors, familiar imagery, flavors, and creative branding can make products appear more approachable or harmless.
-
New products continue to emerge. The specific substances may differ, but the marketplace continues to adapt quickly to regulation, consumer demand, and changing trends.
-
Terminology and drug culture are constantly changing. Professionals need to understand the language, branding, and cultural references surrounding emerging substances—not simply memorize a list of drug names.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from these international scans is that drug trends do not exist in a vacuum. What begins in one country or market can influence another, particularly in an increasingly connected world where products, information, and marketing move quickly across borders. That does not mean that a product seen in Europe will automatically become the next major trend in the United States. It does mean that looking beyond our own communities can give us another perspective on what may be developing.
For professionals working in prevention, education, law enforcement, treatment, healthcare, or community safety, this is an important reminder: we cannot only watch what is happening today. We also need to pay attention to what is beginning to develop elsewhere. Sometimes the earliest warning sign of tomorrow's trend is something that is already showing up somewhere else today.
My international scans reinforced something I have seen throughout my years of Boots on the Ground™ work: The drug landscape is constantly changing. The goal at home or abroad is to recognize patterns, ask questions, and be prepared to respond when the landscape changes.
| | | |
The Tall Cop Speakers Network Spotlight:
Officer Dave Gomez
What are kids really doing online, and would you know if your child was at risk?
Meet Officer Dave Gomez, one of the nation’s leading voices on youth digital safety and a trusted expert on helping parents, educators, and professionals understand what kids are actually experiencing in today’s digital world. With nearly two decades in law enforcement and more than 15 years as a School Resource Officer, Gomez brings real-world experience, honest conversations, and practical guidance to every presentation.Gomez translates real-world juvenile investigations, emerging digital threats, and teen behavior trends into practical strategies for parents, educators, administrators, and public safety professionals.
Known for his engaging storytelling, humor, and direct delivery, Gomez tackles some of the most challenging issues facing youth today, including social media exploitation, artificial intelligence misuse, drug trends, suicide prevention, dating culture, and adolescent decision-making. He brings honest conversations, real-world guidance, and practical steps that empower audiences to recognize risks and take meaningful action.
Officer Gomez Speaks To:
- Law Enforcement
- School Resource Officers
- Information Technology Professionals
- Educators & School Administrators
- Parents & Youth-Serving Professionals
- Public Safety Professionals
A Tall Cop Speakers Network speaker since 2019, Officer Gomez is the nation’s leading speaker on internet safety and a trusted voice in protecting kids in a digital world.
Your organization needs to hear his message. To bring Officer Dave Gomez to your team contact Marla Burch today
Don’t miss Officer Gomez at the 2026 Tall Cop Emerging Drug Trends Conference in Dallas, Texas!
| |
The Tall Cop Speakers Network Spotlight:
Rickey Sanders
Gangs. Drugs. Youth. Your community needs to understand the connections.
Meet Rickey Sanders, a seasoned law enforcement professional and certified gang intelligence expert with extensive experience in gang investigations, narcotics, drug conspiracies, and youth-related public safety.
Rickey began his law enforcement career in 2005 with Kershaw Correctional Institution, eventually serving as the Security Threat Group (STG) Coordinator. He later joined the Chester Police Department as a Narcotics/Gang Investigator before being promoted to Lieutenant. In 2015, he was selected as a Task Force Officer with the ATF Violent Crime Task Force, where he worked complex gang and drug conspiracy investigations.
Today, Rickey serves as a Gang Investigator with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, focusing on gang intelligence, investigations, and youth public safety initiatives. He is a two-time recipient of the South Carolina Gang Investigators Association’s Gang Investigator of the Year Award and has received recognition from the FBI for his role in a major federal gang investigation.
Rickey Speaks To:
- Law Enforcement
- Gang Investigators
- Public Safety Professionals
Rickey brings real-world investigative experience and practical gang intelligence directly to his audiences. His training helps professionals better understand gang activity, recognize indicators, and strengthen their ability to respond to gang and drug-related challenges in their communities.
Your team needs to know what to look for before a gang problem becomes a bigger community problem.
Your organization needs to hear this message. To bring Rickey Sanders to your team - contact Marla Burch today
| | |
TCSS Boots on the
Ground Podcast
| |
Cannabis Now 15 TIMES more Potent Than at the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival
| | | |
Greece, NY Police announce 2 arrests in seizure of $17 million in illegal cannabis products
| |  |
Gas Station Blues - Or Why a Little Regulation around Kratom isn't a Bad Thing
-ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE
| | |
Texas Ban Takes Effect on Many THC Products
| | |
More Americans now use weed every day than drink or smoke cigarettes
-New York Post
| | | SACRAMENTO – California’s nation-leading efforts to remove dangerous kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products from store shelves following recent federal action. | | |
Why Is the DEA Targeting Kratom, an Opioid Replacement Drug?
| | | | |
Thanks Tall Cop & Speakers Network:
Speakers Network Speaker Kym Laube & Rich Grosfelt
- "This was a wonderful presentation - the speaker was extremely engaging and motivating! We have already started to look at ways to implement different strategies in prevention programming."
- "I really enjoyed the presentation and would love to participate in other trainings offered by this instructor."
- "Kym was absolutely amazing. I appreciate the information she provided. It was a great training and the time went fast!"
- Rich, Thank you for being a part of our Lancaster Safety Conference. Your expertise on drug trends provided valuable insight that will help our schools. law enforcement, and community partners better recognize and respond to today's challenges. Thank you for helping to make our conference a success! - Lancaster Safety Conference Team
Tall Cop Jermaine Galloway
-
"Because of your class I started looking/ paying attention and then informing. I know I have had discussion with policy makers and people in positions that could make changes. And it started from your class. And I know you have sparked that in so many across the nation." TC Follower Shanna
| | | | Tall Cop Speakers Network August Highlights | |
| Tall Cop training with Wisconsin State Investigators | | Rich Grosfelt Presenting in Lancaster, SC | | |
Janel Rodriguez - Andrea's Progect
| Forever15 Speaking at First Responders Academy | | |
Check out our Tall Cop Online Store!
We’re starting with a few must-have items and will be adding more over the coming months, so stay tuned.
Order your Tall Cop swag today and rep prevention wherever you go!
| | | J. Chad Professional Training, LLC. | PO Box 23 | Argyle, TX 76226 US | | | | |
