Disclaimer: The Activator is designed to keep prevention professionals informed about emerging products, industry marketing, public messaging, research, and current events. Content is shared to promote awareness and informed discussion—not to endorse, recommend, or promote any product, opinion, organization, or viewpoint featured within the newsletter.

🇺🇸☀️ A Little Longer Weekend

For many of us, Labor Day weekend brought an extra day away from the usual routine—and hopefully a little time to rest, recharge, and enjoy the unofficial end of summer. Whether you traveled, tackled projects, spent time with family and friends, or did absolutely nothing, remember: rest isn't time wasted. As we head into a busy fall, give yourself permission to come back refreshed rather than racing to catch up. The work will still be there. 💙

September 8 is 988 Day—a national Day of Action to raise awareness and positive buzz about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This one hits close to home for our family. We know what it’s like to love someone who has struggled, and it makes me think about the countless people who may be struggling quietly and feeling like they have to carry it alone. You don’t. You are NOT alone.

This year’s theme, “988 Reasons: Your reason is reason enough,” is an important reminder that you don’t have to be in crisis to reach out. Whatever you’re facing—big or small—is reason enough to seek support. On #988Day, share your reason, spread the word, and remind someone that help is just a call, text, or chat to 988 away. 💚

Check out the SAMHSA toolkit that includes downloadable materials, images, and information to amplify this important message! Looking for more shareables? Here you go!

September brings together National Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Month—two observances with a shared message of hope, connection, resilience, and possibility. It’s a time to celebrate the millions of people living in recovery, recognize the people and communities who support them, and remind those who may be struggling that help and hope are available. This month, let’s reduce stigma, start conversations, strengthen connections, celebrate recovery, and remind people that no one has to navigate the journey alone.

All month long I'll be sharing toolkits & initiatives to help you bring this very important conversation to your communities! Have something worth sharing? Send it my way!

Let's get this month started with the following recovery and advocacy resources!🧰💡

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - Social shareables, weekly themes
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) - Partner toolkit, resources
• National Council for Mental Wellbeing - Challenges, year round resource hub
• Faces and Voices of Recovery - Advocacy organization, training providers

Here's a 'call back' to last week's toolkits and themes list!🔗👇

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - Weekly social shareables, graphics
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - Start a Conversation. Be the Difference.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) - Out of the Darkness, Seize the Awkward
• Mental Health America (MHA) - More Good Days, Together

🍻 What’s Brewing?📈

Just one drink a day may increase the risk of dying from numerous cancers CNN

Tony Romo admits 'over-reliance on alcohol' after pleading no contest to impaired driving NBC News

New party school rankings are out. See where your school is USA Today

What do articles like this do to normalize alcohol use?

Marshall University research identifies lasting brain changes associated with adolescent binge alcohol exposure

Marshall University Joan C Edwards School of Medicine

Quick summary: The study published August 15 in Molecular Psychiatry found that binge drinking during adolescence may cause lasting changes in the brain, particularly in areas involved in learning and memory. These changes remained into adulthood, even after a long period without alcohol. Researchers also found that improving the function of certain brain cells could partially reverse some of the effects, offering new clues about why adolescent alcohol use may have long-term impacts—and how some of that damage might someday be repaired.

⌚Wait…That’s a Vape?💨

Just when you think you've seen every vape design possible, meet the VAPORESSO XROS 5 Nano.

At first glance, its rounded-square shape, touchscreen, customizable display, and optional lanyard give it more of a smartwatch or modern pocket watch vibe than a traditional vape. The device features a 1.09-inch touchscreen, 29 display themes, puff reminders, and usage tracking—another example of vaping products borrowing features and aesthetics from everyday consumer technology.

From a recent University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (UW-CTRI) alert..."The company shows young adults using the product and markets the design options (such as “Yellow Satin,” “Color Rush,” or “Damascus Pink”) as well as “personalized” fashionable straps that attach to the devices. This product costs $35.90, is widely available online, and uses nicotine cartridges that come in 3 ml or 2 ml." 

For prevention professionals, it raises an important question: As vapes increasingly look and function like tech accessories, how easy are they to recognize—and who does that design appeal to? 👀📸Vaporesso.com

🚨 Emerging Synthetic Opioid Alert ⚠️

Effective August 27, 2026, the DEA temporarily placed four emerging synthetic opioids—5,6-dichloro brorphine, 5,6-dichloro desmethylchlorphine, N-propionitrile chlorphine (cychlorphine), and spirochlorphine—into Schedule I for at least two years. These substances, sometimes called orphines, produce opioid-like effects and have been found alone or mixed with fentanyl, xylazine, stimulants, benzodiazepines, and other drugs—meaning people may be exposed without knowing it. Cychlorphine has already been identified in 225 encounters across 19 states and 49 fatalities, while standard drug screens may not detect these emerging compounds. Prevention, harm-reduction, healthcare, and public-safety partners should add these names to local drug-trend watchlists, strengthen toxicology partnerships, and continue promoting naloxone access and safer-use messaging.

Read the DEA’s Federal Register notice

Policies, funding priorities, and regulations are moving quickly—and prevention professionals cannot afford to watch from the sidelines. From Wisconsin’s opioid settlement investments to changing federal hemp rules, the decisions being made today will shape what communities can prevent, regulate, fund, and sustain tomorrow. Now is the time to stay informed, share what you are seeing locally, and make sure prevention has a voice before decisions are finalized.

Below are this week's 'top three' national developments and two Wisconsin-specific advocacy efforts to watch!

Federal intoxicating-hemp restrictions delayed—but only briefly (Forbes)



President Trump signed the continuing resolution on September 2. It postpones most changes to the federal definition of hemp from November 12 to December 11, 2026. However, products containing cannabinoids that cannabis cannot naturally produce remain scheduled to lose federal hemp status November 12.

Why it matters: This is a reprieve, not a policy resolution. Coalitions may incorrectly interpret the new date as cancellation of the restrictions. Local and state advocacy should continue rather than pause.

FDA expands the authorized nicotine marketplace

Beginning September 1, FDA authorized the JUUL2 device plus tobacco- and menthol-flavored pods on August 28. The agency now lists 48 authorized e-cigarette products. FDA also authorized 11 ZYN ULTRA nicotine-pouch products on August 21. FDA tobacco marketing decisions, JUUL2 authorization details

What may happen next: A lawsuit filed by Altria on September 2 seeking major changes to FDA’s tobacco-review process is an emerging signal, not a change in current law. A successful challenge could accelerate authorization of additional pouches and vapes.

DEA places additional 7-OH-related compounds in Schedule I

DEA temporarily placed mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15 and MGM-16 in Schedule I through August 26, 2028, unless extended or made permanent. Possession, retail sale and distribution outside authorized DEA activity are now unlawful.

Community steps to take: Avoid treating “kratom,” concentrated 7-OH and these newly scheduled derivatives as synonymous. When you do community scans, photograph complete ingredient panels—not merely the front branding—because a purported 7-OH product may contain federally controlled pseudoindoxyl.

WI enforcement expands to hemp vaping products

Beginning September 1, 2026, Wisconsin may impose a $1,000-per-day forfeiture for each hemp vaping device sold or offered for sale when it is absent from the state Electronic Vaping Device Directory. Products may also be seized and destroyed. Hemp-device manufacturers were required to certify products by July 1 and supply independent laboratory evidence that they contain hemp and no nicotine.

Why it matters: Wisconsin’s directory is no longer principally a nicotine-vape issue. It now directly affects hemp vapes encountered during community retail scans. Coalitions should document suspected unlisted products without representing themselves as enforcement authorities.

WI is soliciting input on its next opioid-settlement allocation

Wisconsin DHS expects $11.6 million in state-managed opioid-settlement funding for state fiscal year 2028. Its public survey remains open through September 30, 2026. DHS says responses will inform prevention, overdose reduction, infectious-disease prevention, treatment and recovery investments. Wisconsin DHS announcement and survey

Why it matters: This is a direct opportunity to influence future funding before priorities are finalized—not merely react after grants are announced. Coalition partners should submit complementary responses rather than identical form letters.

Looking for a fabulous lineup of prevention professionals AND need CEUs? 🙌 Get three days of learning, inspiration, and practical tools—all from the comfort of your favorite chair! 👇

Check out the impressive line-up for the virtual Fall Prevention Professional Conference held October 13-15 - including experts on youth engagement, advocacy authorities, evaluation pros, self-care specialists, and more!



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Don't delay, sign up today! And join me at this event!