The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole

In this episode, we are joined by Scott Silverman. Scott was was once a substance abuser near suicide. He has since turned his life around to become a crisis coach and family navigator, helping at risk individuals also turn their lives around. He is currently the CEO/Founder of Confidential Recovery and Author of The Opioid Epidemic. He is also the founder of second chance, a nonprofit human servi...

Today’s guest is Barbara Jacobs Fistanic , Clinical Director of the Outpatient Program at Harmony Place Drug Addiction Treatment Center . She has been part of the co-occurring mental health and addiction treatment fields since 1992 with various roles in Social Work. In this episode, she speaks with Michael and Jen about: How she’s seen substance abuse trends change throughout her career The differ...

In this special episode, we are joined by Congressman Seth Moulton. Congressman Moulton is a Democrat representing Massachusetts’ 6 Congressional District. He’s a Marine Corps Veteran who served four tours in Iraq, including two tours as a Platoon Commander and two tours as a Special Assistant to General David Petraeus. He ran for Congress in 2014 and today, sits on House Armed Services, Transport...

As the conversation and practice of Psychedelic therapies and treatments becomes more commonplace, it is important to explore the potential impact the decriminalization and medical legitimization of these substances can have on our society. In this episode, we speak with Erica Siegal, Founder of NEST Harm Reduction & Consulting. Erica is a licensed clinical social worker, professional, harm re...

This episode features Ashley Loveless. She has experience with syringe exchange programs, overdose prevention strategies, as well as state and federal policy and procedure development and works with various harm reduction programs in Colorado. Michael and Jen speak to Ashley about: Drug Checking - why it matters The technology that changed Ashley’s drug checking program The efforts and importance...

With safe injection sites becoming more commonplace and government supported, we must have a discussion around the help and harm of these locations. In this episode, Jen and Michael discuss: Where do we draw the line on what an individual can use in these locations? Is there an “off ramp” designed with these safe injection sites? Reflecting on the Crack epidemic and its impact on the Black Communi...

In this episode, Micheal and Jen Speak with Dr. Sofia Georgoulias. Dr. Georgoulias is a clinical psychologist based out of New York. She has extensive experience treating patients with substance abuse issues, general mental health and harm reduction. She also has a direct line of sight into our legal system, specifically incarcerations, from her time working at Rikers Island. This episode covers:...

By this time next year, the US is on track to pass over 200,000 unintentional Fentanyl overdoses. The problem is that our government has allowed the cartels of the ‘80s to metastasize into “Super Cartels.” In this episode of the Opioid Matrix, Michael and Jen talk about: The Rise of the Super Cartels If there is a difference between Cartels and Insurgency Groups What does the fallout of the compet...

Today’s guest has founded a unique harm reduction center. In fact, what makes it unique is that it is the only openly drug user run syringe exchange in Tennessee. In this episode, Jen and Michael are joined by Daniel Patrick Garret, Founding Director of Tennessee Harm Reduction. THR is a community based organization operating at the intersection of Public Health, Drug User Advocacy and Drug Policy...

Regardless of how many deterrent drug policies are put into place, some pills and substances always find their way through. In those cases, federal policies can only go so far. It’s time to take a deeper look at harm reduction strategies. In this episode, Michael and Jen are joined by Maggie Seldeen, Founder & Director of High Rockies Harm Reduction. In this episode they explore: A clear defin...

About a month ago, Australian Police busted the largest shipment of Fentanyl in the country’s history. Michael and Jen jump on the mic to discuss the implications of this bust and what this could mean in the larger geopolitical context. Join us as we discuss: The larger implications of this bust – Could this start a Fentanyl War? The upcoming Fentanyl production war between Chinese Triads and Mexi...

In this episode, Michael Speaks with Jeff Johnston,  Founder of The Living Undeterred Project. After losing his oldest son, Seth, to fentanyl poisoning in 2016, and later his wife, Prudence, to alcoholism in 2021, Jeff has dedicated his life to making a difference in the mental health and substance abuse space (source). Join us as we discuss: The purpose and impact of the Live Undeterred Tour How...

In this episode we are honored to be joined by Retired DEA Special Agent Steve Murphy. Steve Murphy is a retired DEA Special Agent involved in the successful manhunt for narcotics kingpin Pablo Escobar, and his story formed part of the backbone for the Netflix series Narcos. Mr. Murphy began his law enforcement career in his home state of West Virginia. In the mid 1980s he joined the DEA and was a...

We’re seeing an alarming and rapid increase in the rates of opioid addiction and overdoses in African American communities across the country. Disparities in prescription procedures, improper pain management strategies, the pandemic, the defunding of dedicated task forces — these factors are all contributing to this growing problem. Michael Brown, the Global Director of Counter-Narcotics Interdict...

As the Opioid Crisis continues to ravage the country, what is being done to solve the prevalence of these drugs in our communities? Today, we breakdown how different states are tackling handling opioid use and how these strategies can lead to various consequences in terms of the future of drug use in America and how drug use is prosecuted. Michael and Jen Speak About: The Decriminalization Strateg...

The war on drugs was a misdriven effort to stop addiction, but in decades past, the nation has shifted to focus on harm reduction and education. In this episode, Phil Owen, founder of Austin Area Opioid Workgroup and Peer Recovery Coach Coordinator at Communities for Recovery shares his experience with addiction and how he has dedicated decades to stopping the distribution of and potential harm of...

What are the key factors that cause Generational cycles of Drug Trafficking? How can City-Based-Communities fight against this cycle? And how can we bridge the political, law enforcement and funding gap that allows a majority of these problems to prevade? In today’s episode, Jen and Michael speak with Bradly Johnson, Chief Community Officer at BUILD Inc. Chicago. They discuss: The Mission of Build...

The current government approach to drug control is mainly focused on harm reduction. While these efforts are commendable, they often fall short because of the large number of agencies involved. How should the current National Drug Control Policy switch strategies to boost its effectiveness in preventing fentanyl-related deaths? In this Episode, Michael and Jen talk about: The Current Administratio...

Do the current definitions and views of the Opioid Crisis hold up or is there a different way to frame this issue. In today’s episode, Jen and Michael speak with Michael Gray, Founder/Chairman at Fentanyl Awareness Coalition.  They Discuss: A Paradigm Shift due to Fentanyl deception Michael Gray’s Story – How this new paradigm shift affected him personally Michael’s efforts to shift the conversati...

Why and how does drug trafficking in Pakistan and Afghanistan threaten the United States? This problem hits closer to home than you might think. In today’s episode, Jen and Michael discuss His recent Trip to Pakistan and current trends How Rigaku Technology can be used to mitigate drug trafficking through targeting precursor chemicals How Pakistan and Afghanistan are now more Vulnerable to trans-n...

Welcome to this episode of The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into The Rabbit Hole. In this episode we take a deep dive into the Domestic Side of the war on drugs. In our conversation with Michael Brown, Counter-Narcotics Interdiction Business Development  Director at Rigaku Analytical Devices, we talk about: How the Taliban “banned” opium essentially controlling the market and converting their reserves...

Welcome to this episode of The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into The Rabbit Hole. In this episode we take a deep dive into the Domestic Side of the war on drugs. In our conversation with Michael Brown, Counter-Narcotics Interdiction Business Development  Director at Rigaku Analytical Devices, we talk about: The six key capabilities that cartels need to operate How to identify the weak links in the cha...

Welcome to this episode of The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into The Rabbit Hole. In this episode we take a deep dive into the domestic side of the war on drugs. In our conversation with Michael Brown, Counter-Narcotics Interdiction Business Development  Director at Rigaku Analytical Devices, we talk about: The symbiotic relationship between Chinese Crime groups, and Mexican cartels has resulted in th...

Welcome to The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into The Rabbit Hole. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the International Side of the war on drugs. In our conversation with Michael Brown, Counter-Narcotics Interdiction Business Development  Director at Rigaku Analytical Devices, we talk about: Michael’s 31  year Career In the DEA Specifying the idiosyncrasies of the International War on Drugs The...

Welcome to this episode of The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into The Rabbit Hole. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the Domestic Side of the war on drugs. In our conversation with Michael Brown , Counter-Narcotics Interdiction Business Development  Director at Rigaku Analytical Devices , we talk about: The difference between violent drug trafficking in the inner-city and suburban drug use.  Am...