When was the last time you really looked around your local convenience store, at the gas station counter, on the shelves of the grocery or liquor store, or stopped by the local vape shop(s)? 👀

One of the unique services I offer is a comprehensive community scan focused on alcohol, tobacco, OTCs, cannabis products, and more being marketed and sold locally. I spend hours documenting storefronts, promotions, product placement, and emerging trends—then integrate those real-world findings directly into my trainings and presentations.

What sets my scans apart? Communities receive a customized summary plus access to hundreds of photos captured during the process 📸—helping spark meaningful conversations around prevention, policy, and awareness.



This week, I brought this high-impact training experience to The Best You Coalition in Keokuk, Iowa—integrating examples of local products, promotions, and emerging trends identified through more than 200 community scan photos into a tailored Old Drugs, New Threats® presentation for community members and youth leadership groups 🤩

DEA weighs in on kratom dangers ClickonDetroit

Not just an energy drink: National study finds kratom use is rising Medical Express

Trump pivots on kratom derivative 7-OH, floating approval for some forms STAT

...FDA had warned that natural opioids in kratom were being turned into harmful products...

Coast Guard bans kratom, similar drugs immediately

Military Times

As kratom use surges, Illinois debates how to regulate the product Fox32 (IL)

What conversations are your communities having re: kratom?🌿 Do people know what it is? 🤔 Or where it’s being sold in stores 🏪 and online 💻? Remember—just because it’s “banned” in your state ⚖️ doesn’t mean it isn’t still accessible to your residents. 🚨

📸 Photo from community scan, Keokuk IA

Philadelphia CBP seizes 'Blue Nitro' GBL destined to Everett, MA

US Customs & Border Protection

...officers seized a half gallon of gamma-butyrolactone, known on the street and at raves as “Blue Nitro” or liquid ecstasy...GBL is highly regulated in the United States because it is a precursor chemical to the more dangerous gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, also known as GHB, a Schedule 1 substance under the Controlled Substances Act...GHB and GBL are used as a party drug because it mimics the effects of alcohol, but it poses potentially severe health consequences, including unconsciousness, seizures, slowed heart rate, severe respiratory depression, decreased body temperature, vomiting, nausea, coma, or death...Alarmingly, GHB (aka 'date rape drug') is used by sexual predators to incapacitate their victims. It is also abused by bodybuilders to spike human growth hormone and induce deep sleep for body recovery...

How one psilocybin trip may reshape the brain MedScape

Are the benefits of psychedelics exaggerated? A new study highlights the problem of selection bias PsyPost

🔗Learn more about nightclub and party drugs trends and surface swabbing studies from this recent NDEWS newsletter!

During this week's community scans I saw over a dozen varieties of this product...which was also the feature of the UW-CTRI's spotlight.

So what did the clerks say about them? "Many of the buyers have complained that they continue to 'run' after they hit them...I think they pushed them out before they were fully tested." 📸 Old Drugs, New Threats® Presentation

You’ve heard of beer pong 🍺 or shots pong 🥃… but have you seen Bong Pong? 👀

This “game” is being heavily promoted across social media, complete with 12- or 6-cup (“half-baked”) bong table kits designed to turn cannabis use into a party activity and social experience.

Another reminder that today’s drug culture marketing isn’t just about substances—it’s about branding, normalization, humor, and shareable content that can strongly influence perception of risk and acceptability, especially among young people. 📱🧠

Check it out here: https://bongpong.com/

Hot off the (virtual) press!

This week, the Wisconsin Safe and Healthy Schools Center released their 2026 A Guide for Schools to Address Substance Use Prevention and Intervention toolkit! Check it out for best practices, programs, and theory to support your school and community's unique needs!



It was an honor to be asked to contribute this fantastic comprehensive guide for educators and administrators looking to address this complex issue!

The FY26 Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) grants are now open (due 6/8) to support current and former DFC coalitions working to prevent opioid, methamphetamine, and prescription drug misuse among youth ages 12–18.

Remember… strong applications are built through strategy, partnerships, and alignment. Start partner outreach early, collect meaningful local data, and make sure your narrative reflects the unique strengths and needs of your community—not just what AI thinks sounds good.

Need help? Let’s connect🌟