The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole

“Dope Moves North, Money Moves South”: the Drug Cartel 2.0 Model

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when a fully synthetic drug turns organized crime into an industrial-scale, cross-border killing machine?In this episode of The Opioid Ma...

Narco-Terrorism Reimagined: Why the Old Rules No Longer Apply

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when the world’s most dangerous networks evolve faster than the systems meant to stop them?In this episode of The Opioid Matrix, host M...

Unchained: Rewriting a Legacy Beyond Addiction

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Generational addiction isn’t just a theory - it’s a reality in homes across America. But what does it take to truly break the cycle?In this deeply...

Quiet Crisis: Cartel Influence in Canada

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of The Opioid Matrix, host Michael Brown speaks with Chris Hudson, a Canadian security expert and CEO of CJE Hudson & Associates, ...

The Fentanyl Equation: Science Fights Back

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Three hundred thousand American deaths in three years…and the chemistry is still evolving. If the cartels turned the lab into the battlefield, why h...

Fighting Fentanyl at the Root: Why Every City Needs Project SMART

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fentanyl isn’t just stealing lives—it’s exposing a broken system. Year after year, billions are spent on programs that barely move the needle, w...

From Most Wanted to Most Trusted: The Double Life of a Law Enforcement Informant

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if the people we locked away for drug crimes were running million-dollar trafficking empires—from behind bars?In this explosive episode, we sit...

California: Sanctuary City Policies, Homelessness and Cartel Fentanyl, where does this Road Lead to?

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While overdose deaths climb and homelessness surges, billions in taxpayer dollars disappear into broken systems and half-hearted solutions. And beneat...

Why does America Keep Losing the Same Drug War Over and Over Again?

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. dismantled Colombia’s Cali Cartel with strategy, buy-in, and force. What are we doing wrong now that fentanyl is winning in the U.S.?Former...

Former Shot Caller for the Sinaloa Cartel Reveals America’s New Strategies Against Cartels

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sealing borders won’t resolve the fentanyl crisis unless we rethink how domestic trafficking can be disrupted. In this episode, we welcome back Mar...

A Doctor’s Journey: Seeking the Truth Behind his Son’s Fentanyl Death

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Michael Brown sits down with Dr. Gary Latson, a licensed anesthesiologist and father who lost his son to a fentanyl-laced substance. ...

Terror has a Name - Inside Los Zetas Cartel

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this gripping episode, we sit down with former DEA Special Agent and author Leo Silva to discuss the evolving landscape of the illicit drug trade a...

Cartel Fentanyl is in Everything - even Marijuana

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you think your child is safe, think again. Fentanyl isn’t in counterfeit pills anymore—it’s laced into marijuana, hidden in vape pens, and di...

How the Cure Became the Cause: Examining Colorado’s Drug Decriminalization Policies

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Illicit fentanyl has transformed the U.S. drug crisis into a national emergency that affects all ages, incomes, and communities. Despite the staggerin...

Middle Americas’ Fight against Fentanyl using Community Centric Policing

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the heart of America’s fentanyl crisis, one county is doing what many thought impossible—bringing overdose rates down. In this episode we are ...

Deflection Methods: an Alternative Approach to Address Substance Use

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Each person who struggles with drug addiction has a unique story. And regardless of how they got there, they are all humans and deserve to be treated ...

Mexico’s Deadliest Cartel - Inside the CJNG with Chris Dalby

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Cartel operations go far beyond drugs—they are entrenched in the internal economies of countries, exercising control across multiple industries. In...

Jay Flores’ Journey from Sinaloa Cartel Kingpin to Law Enforcement Educator, Part 2

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, we are once again joined by Margarito "Jay" Flores, Jr., a former distributor for the Sinaloa Cartel, for part two of our series...

Jay Flores’ Journey from Sinaloa Cartel Kingpin to Law Enforcement Educator, Part 1

10 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Money is the engine of drug trafficking. Without it, organized crime would cease to exist.Does this mean that efforts to end the drug crisis in Americ...

From Personal Pain to Public Outreach: Andrea Thomas and Michael Fiore Face the Opioid Crisis Head-on

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Getting sober is often seen as the milestone of ending drug addiction, and many policies and projects are designed with this approach in mind.However,...

How the Opioid Crisis and Homelessness are Impacting the Golden State

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

No matter how much money is allocated to fight the opioid epidemic, if it’s not sustained by strong, systemic approaches and policies, the fight won...

The Impact Cartel Fentanyl has on the U.S. Judicial System

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"How do prosecutors handle the evolving illicit drug market and how has it impacted our judicial system?"As fentanyl-related deaths continue to rise n...

A Legal, Political, and Social Perspective from Inside the Fentanyl Epicenter

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

'It takes an entire country to protect the country.'But when we're talking about deep and complex geopolitical dynamics, is a united country enough to...

Building Community in DEA Operations

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

To tackle the drug crisis, relying solely on law enforcement is no longer sufficient. With cartels employing increasingly sophisticated trafficking t...

Marijuana Rescheduling Consequences: Potency, Policy, and Public Health

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How has marijuana changed since the days when Paul McCartney composed ‘Got to Get You into My Life’ in 1966?In this episode, we take a deep dive i...

A Mother’s Journey: Advocating for a Fentanyl-Free Future

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Find purpose from lossIn this powerful conversation, our guest Michele Hein, shares her tragic story as a mother who has faced unimaginable loss and e...

Narco Cash: Unveiling the Mexico-China Money Laundering Connection

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, we dive deep into the shadowy world of drug production and its far-reaching financial tentacles. We're peeling back layers of th...

Parenting in the Shadows: Addressing Substance Use and Broken Homes

16 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Cristina Utti,  an educator and author of 'Breaking Infinity.'  speaks from the heart about her journey through her near fatal substance abuse a...

A Mother's Mission to Address the Stigma of Substance Addiction

02 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Julie Waters, founder of the Jace Waters Foundation shares her journey of losing her son to addiction and the work she is doing ...

A Mother’s Story of Loss: From Pain to Purpose

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our children represent the very future of society. However, without vigorously confronting the opioid crisis, how can we guarantee their protection?In...

A Journey Through Addiction, Recovery, and Across Canada

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

To anyone out there with a loved one who’s struggling, don't ever give up compassion because it's not a moral failing; your loved one simply doesn’...

Inside the Fentanyl Crisis: What No Parent Should Ever See

23 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Fentanyl is the bullet, but it's the Mexican cartels that are pointing the gun at our children and pulling the trigger.In today's episode, we are hono...

Sometimes It's Our Secrets That Can Kill Us: Breaking The Chains of Addiction

09 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest, Danielle Burkett, had everything stacked against her. Even when navigating an unstable upbringing and childhood trauma, she knew at a young...

Drug Cartel Operations: A Perspective on the Drugs, Violence, and Cooperation

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Without International partnerships and cooperation, we’re not going to win this battle. In this episode, we delve into the complex and harrowing wor...

Mental Health Resilience: Strategies for Combating Addiction

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Exploring the intricate web of trauma's influence, addiction's grasp, and the erosion of genuine connections, this episode unearths the need for holis...

Nurturing Resilience: Breaking Free from Victim Mentality

07 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's okay to not feel okay.On today’s episode, we welcome back Dr. Geri-Lynn Utter, a Clinical Psychologist and the Author of Mainlining Philly: Sur...

Faith, Community & Collaboration in the Fight Against Substance Addiction

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

DEA seizures reveal a chilling reality — 60% of the pills taken off the streets pack a lethal dose of fentanyl.Our special guest, Tj Ward, a man of ...

Operation Fast and Furious: Arming Mexican Cartels with U.S. Weapons

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Weapons are hitting the streets and killing Americans. They're fueling cartel and domestic drug trafficking violence. We have layers of complex proble...

The Overlapping Crisis: Cartels, Fentanyl and Sex Trafficking

17 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

1 in 3 runaways that are out on the streets will be solicited by a sex buyer, or engaged with a trafficker.In this revealing conversation, our guest H...

Overcoming Stigma: Treating Opioid Addiction with Compassion

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Suboxone will protect an individual from a fentanyl overdose, but the one thing that will keep them in recovery is love. Today on the show we’re joi...

Narco-Terrorism Unveiled: Inside Mexico's Cartel Chronicles

03 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One thousand pesos — that’s $59 — to go out and commit murder.In this episode, we dive deep into the heart of Mexico, exploring its complex rela...

The Need for a Narco-Hazmat Response to the Opioid Epidemic

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Between 250 and 300 people will die today from a fentanyl-related overdose. Are we faced with a weapon of mass destruction? An epidemic? A mental heal...

Law Enforcement vs. America's New Progressive Social Agenda

19 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When you remove social restraints, you get chaos. In this episode, two former DEA agents reunite to discuss the implications of government support on ...

The History of Addiction: Unraveling America’s Affair With the Drug Trade

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Can America break free from the grip of addiction? Are innovative solutions like alcohol purchase licenses and safe drug supply the answer? And what r...

How a Mother is Making an Impact on the Fentanyl Crisis

29 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

According to the CDC, 107,000 people in the United States have died from drug poisoning related to fentanyl, yet the country fails to recognize it as ...

Facing Fentanyl Head On with Andrea Thomas

21 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When Andrea Thomas’ daughter Ashley lost her life to half of a pill that contained illicit fentanyl, her world was turned upside down. Since her dau...

Reshaping Addiction Recovery with Human-Centered Harm Reduction

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Opioid addiction isn’t just about the drug—the problem is usually much deeper. Addressing the crisis and waging a war on fentanyl will not be succ...

From Crisis to Solution: A Round Table Conversation on Battling the Opioid Crisis

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for a special 50th episode of The Opioid Matrix as we bring together four leading experts in the field of mental health and substance addictio...

The Battle Against Transnational Crime: with Anthony Stephen Malone

01 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this gripping episode of The Opioid Matrix with Michael Brown, we continue our insightful conversation with former Intelligence agent and author, A...

Shifting Frontiers: Mexico's Drug Trade & National Security

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The US war on terror has shifted — from Afghanistan and terrorism to Mexico and deadly drugs. The discussion on terrorism is calling for Mexican dru...

A Mother's Journey: Healing Trauma, Addiction, and Resilience with Lakeydra Houston

18 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this powerful episode of The Opioid Matrix, join host Michael Brown as he engages in a profound conversation with Lakeydra Houston, a veteran, advo...

Battling Drug Smuggling and Protecting Local Communities with Lt. Christopher Olivarez

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this thought-provoking installment, we shed light on the collateral victims of the devastating fentanyl crisis and expose the criminals who prey on...

From Oxycontin to Fentanyl: Addicting America

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Michael speaks with Pharmacist Mike. They discuss the effects of narcotics, such as oxycontin, heroin, and fentanyl, and the difficul...

Understanding the Mind of an Addict, with Teresa Whitney

20 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready to venture deep into the rabbit hole and emerge with a newfound perspective on the battle against addiction. Host Michael Brown welcomes Ter...

300 lives a day: the perseverance to save lives with Derek Maltz

13 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Every single day, 300 Americans lose their lives to drug overdoses. This is not just a statistic — it’s a tragedy that demands our attention. In t...

Michael Fiore Turning Pain into Purpose

06 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, recreational drug use poses a threat that was unimaginable twenty years ago. In this episode, we’re joined by Michael Fiore, a man who has su...

Understanding Stimulant Use Disorder

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Substance use disorders may be a societal problem the world over, but not all substances are the same — which means approaches to tackling the probl...

A Real Talk about Fake Pills with Song for Charlie Founder, Ed Ternan

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After the sudden loss of their son Charlie to a counterfeit Perocet pill that contained illicit fentanyl, Ed and Mary Ternan created Song for Charlie ...

Love, Loss and the Fight Against Counterfeit Pills

25 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Every day, over 300 deaths occur in America due to fentanyl overdoses — this month, approximately many people will unsuspectingly lose their lives d...

Beating the Odds: From Addiction to Advocacy - meet Elissa Tierney

25 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When we think about the opioid crisis, a few things immediately come to mind: Mexican cartels, substance users lost in the haze of addiction, and thos...

FenBlock: A New Tool for Getting Clean

11 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The off-ramp from long-term prescription opioid use for pain management is a grueling process — especially when patients are not provided with the p...

Harm Reduction & The Many Paths to Recovery

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The drug epidemic is complicated. And just as there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to getting drugs off our streets, there isn’t one single pa...

How OxyContin Paved the Path to Fentanyl; A Doctor's Perspective

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When OxyContin was approved in the ‘90s, how many could predict the skyrocketing opioid deaths or the rise of fentanyl in the road ahead? As we scra...

Survival, Hope, and Breaking the Cycle of Substance Use

29 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Family addiction, mental health troubles, a culture of substance abuse — in the drug epidemic, despair can lead one to conclude drug use is inevitab...

The Science Behind Drug Addiction and Treatment

28 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We can tackle some of the symptoms of addiction through harm reduction, but we will never be able to curb the addiction itself without understanding o...

Combatting the Transnational Organized Criminal Economy

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Transnational Organized Criminal (TOC) groups and their proxies are part of a much larger centralized global criminal network. And the threat is large...

From Drug Dealing to Harm Reduction: The Story of Narcan Nate

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week's episode of The Opioid Matrix features Nathan Smiddy, also known as "Narcan Nate". Nate is a Harm Reduction Education Specialist. We delve ...

The Opioid Epidemic: A DEA Agent's Insider Perspective

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the podcast, we welcome Brian Townsend, a former DEA special agent, to discuss his career fighting the war on drugs and the current...

Part Two - Terrorist Organizations or Criminal Cartels: The Debate on Fentanyl Production in Mexico w/ Kevin Ofchus

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Michael speaks with Kevin Ofchus, - a former Supervisory Special Agent with the U.S. DEA and is now CEO of Host Nation Perspectives o...

Part One - Navigating Corruption and Degradations in Afghanistan w/ Kevin Ofchus

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Michael speaks with Kevin Ofchus - a former Supervisory Special Agent with the U.S. DEA and is now CEO of Host Nation Perspectives of...

Breaking the Cycle: Preventing Drug Abuse in the Next Generation

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we delve into how drug abuse disproportionately affects young people in America. We discuss the devastating consequences of drug addi...

Discussing the Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) On Individuals With Addiction and Substance Dependence

17 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As the debate around harm reduction continues, it is important to remember that there are mental health strategies those suffering from substance depe...

The Realities of Decriminalization - Is it a Double-Edged Sword?

09 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Normalizing Drug Use, The Future of Legalization and Re-Defining Rehab through Harm Reduction

03 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s guest is Barbara Jacobs Fistanic, Clinical Director of the Outpatient Program at Harmony Place Drug Addiction Treatment Center. She has been...

A Conversation with Congressman Seth Moulton About the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and Better Efforts to Degrade Fentanyl in the US

03 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode, we are joined by Congressman Seth Moulton. Congressman Moulton is a Democrat representing Massachusetts’ 6 Congressional Di...

A Discussion about the Future of Pharmaceutical Psychedelics for the Treatment of Mental Health

27 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As the conversation and practice of Psychedelic therapies and treatments becomes more commonplace, it is important to explore the potential impact the...

How Real-Time Drug Checking Programs Can Help Save Lives

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This episode features Ashley Loveless. She has experience with syringe exchange programs, overdose prevention strategies, as well as state and federal...

Breaking Down the Debate Around Safe Injection Sites

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With safe injection sites becoming more commonplace and government supported, we must have a discussion around the help and harm of these locations. I...

What is the Off-Ramp for a Harm Reduction Strategy?

22 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The Evolution of Narco Cartels Into Narco Insurgencies

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 c...

An Open User’s Journey to Reform Drug Policy in Tennessee

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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...

How Harm Reduction Strategies Serve as an Effective Safety Net w/ Maggie Seldeen, Founder & Director of High Rockies Harm Reduction

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Regardless of how many deterrent drug policies are put into place, some pills and substances always find their way through. In those cases, federal po...

How the Largest Fentanyl Seizure in Australian History Could Spark a Fentanyl Production War Between the Mexican Cartels and Chinese Triads

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 th...

Why First Time Substance Users Are at a Higher Risk of Death Than Ever Before

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Michael Speaks with Jeff Johnston,  Founder of The Living Undeterred Project.After losing his oldest son, Seth, to fentanyl poisonin...

Retired DEA Special Agent Steve Murphy on The Opioid Crisis, China’s 100 Year Plan And the Ever Changing Nature of the War on Drugs

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 succ...

Battling Increasing Addiction Rates in African-American Communities

05 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’re seeing an alarming and rapid increase in the rates of opioid addiction and overdoses in African American communities across the country.Dispar...

A Breakdown of Different U.S. State Bills and their Consequences

22 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 breakdow...

Communities for Recovery w/ Phil Owen, founder of Austin Area Opioid Workgroup/ Peer Recovery Coach Coordinator at Communities for Recovery

02 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 thi...

Generational Cycles of Drug Trafficking: How we can fix it w/ Bradly Johnson of BUILD Inc. Chicago

26 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 b...

Taking a Hard Look at the U.S. National Drug Control Strategy

19 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The current government approach to drug control is mainly focused on harm reduction. While these efforts are commendable, they often fall short becaus...

How Fentanyl Changed the Paradigm by Deceiving a New Customer Base

12 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 Micha...

Discussing the Increased Threat Posed by Trans-National Criminal Organizations in Pakistan and Afghanistan

05 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 tod...

The Role of the Taliban in the International Drug Trade

28 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Finding the Weak Links: How to Target Cartel Capabilities

21 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Fruit of The Poisonous Tree: Origins of the Fentanyl Problem

14 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The International Drug War: Breaking Down the Fentanyl Supply Chain

07 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The U.S. Domestic Drug War-Is this battle a lost cause?

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 o...

Has the War on Drugs Been a Failure?

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this introductory episode, we dive into the discussion-has the war on Drugs been a failure? Explaining what to expect of the show and the kinds of ...