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Artwork for The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole

The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole

Rigaku
Fentanyl
Drug Trafficking
Opioid Crisis
Sinaloa Cartel
Cali Cartel
DEA
Narco-Terrorism
Fentanyl Crisis
Pablo Escobar
Los Zetas Cartel
Medellin Cartel
Prison System
Drug Cartels
China
Cartel Violence
Synthetic Drugs
Colombia
Law Enforcement Strategies
Substance Abuse
Immunotherapy

The Opioid Matrix is a podcast for anyone looking for the latest information in the illegal drug supply chain — Beginning to end. Each episode will feature a discussion with industry experts about the current opioid crisis, including drug trafficking, drug manufacturing, drug identification, drug addiction, as well as the role of government, law enforcement, new health and social programs, and mor... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes100Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceTechnologyChemistry

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole

Latest Episodes

In this episode of The Opioid Matrix, host Michael Brown speaks with Ralph Ornelas, a 36-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, about the domestic networks helping fuel America’s fentanyl crisis.

Drawing on decades of experienc... more

In this episode of The Opioid Matrix, Michael Brown speaks with Adam Castillo, a former U.S. Marine officer, founder of AGS Myanmar, and former president of the American business community in Myanmar. Adam is also the author of Finding Our Voice: A S... more

What happens when a fully synthetic drug turns organized crime into an industrial-scale, cross-border killing machine?

In this episode of The Opioid Matrix, host Michael Brown sits down with Jack McFarland (retired DEA agent, Caribbean division vete... more

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 Michael Brown sits down with Dr. Martin Gallagher — retired Scottish police superintendent, terrorism... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ralph Ornelas
Former Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; counter-narcotics and gang investigations expert
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (retired)
Episode: Gangland Guardian: 36 Years in the Line of Fire
Adam Castillo
President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar; author of Finding Our Voice
Finding Our Voice (book)
Episode: From Myanmar to Mexico: A Warning for America’s Drug War
Jack McFarland
Retired DEA agent, keynote speaker and global law enforcement consultant
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Episode: “Dope Moves North, Money Moves South”: the Drug Cartel 2.0 Model
Dr. Martin Gallagher
Former Superintendent for the Scottish Police and consultant on organized crime and terrorism
Kill Mailing Consultancy
Episode: Narco-Terrorism Reimagined: Why the Old Rules No Longer Apply
Chris Schultz
A recovery advocate and electrical company owner who shares his story of overcoming addiction within his family.
Schultz Enterprises
Episode: Unchained: Rewriting a Legacy Beyond Addiction
Chris Hudson
Canadian-based security professional and CEO of CJE Hudson & Associates
CJE Hudson & Associates
Episode: Quiet Crisis: Cartel Influence in Canada
Collin Gage
Co-founder of ARMR Sciences
ARMR Sciences
Episode: The Fentanyl Equation: Science Fights Back
Larry Kenemore
North American Chapter Leader for the Rotarian Action Group focused on addiction prevention and recovery, former paramedic.
Rotary Club
Episode: Fighting Fentanyl at the Root: Why Every City Needs Project SMART
Benjamin Freeland
Former mid-level drug trafficker turned informant and now founder of Strategic Informant Solutions.
Strategic Informant Solutions
Episode: From Most Wanted to Most Trusted: The Double Life of a Law Enforcement Informant

Host

Michael Brown
Host of The Opioid Matrix

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars from 25 ratings
  • Most information misstated & incorrect -

    Health care provider and public health researcher here, get your info elsewhere! Please! This was hard to listen to, the host was 0 for 3 on stating incorrect data in the first 90 seconds. Throughout the most recent episode I listened to, the research cited was extremely shallow and they would have found it to be incorrect had they bothered to go deeper. This is not a good source for the public.

    These are not experts on the material. This podcast is more opinion based than anything. Disappoint... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    maddyhilliard
    United Statesa year ago
  • Kinda lame podcast masquerading as something legit

    This podcast is a commercial for Rigaku. Not really getting much great unique content here. Just the same kind of tired crap you’d expect from a corporate podcast designed to market their product.

    “Has the war on drugs been a failure” is a good example. I dunno....ya think??

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    JamesMcNally000
    United States3 years ago
  • Will listen more, but so far seems I’ll-informed albeit well intentioned

    Listening to an episode from Mar 6, 2023, and there seems to be endless misunderstandings on every level, including from the expert. Disappointed to see this be the case, as it perpetuates the exact issues one would hope to be improving. It seems well-intentioned, but there’s a lot to address in terms of misunderstandings and poor information regarding the topic.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    CodyKo420
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Another listener notes well-meaning but sometimes misinformed discussions that could improve with stronger sourcing.
A few reviews suggest it markets its sponsor rather than delivering unique content.
There are listeners who find intention and effort evident but wish for deeper subject mastery.
Overall quality is mixed; some listeners feel data is shallow or not fully accurate.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Gangland Guardian: 36 Years in the Line of Fire
Q: What policy shifts do you believe could meaningfully reduce overdose deaths and disrupt the supply chain?
A combination of kinetic enforcement where appropriate, strong prosecutorial leadership using tools like RICO and potentially domestic-terror designations, plus nationwide, coordinated intelligence-sharing and prevention efforts—backed by public education and community programs—are essential.
Gangland Guardian: 36 Years in the Line of Fire
Q: What patterns have you observed in how street gangs and prison gangs interact with international cartels?
Gangs and prison gangs act as domestic distribution networks that cartels leverage, creating a layered supply chain from the border to the street; the collaboration magnifies the reach and lethality of fentanyl and related drugs.
The Fentanyl Equation: Science Fights Back
Q: How would you test this? I mean, would you have individuals put on a fentanyl drip to see if they get affected by it?
Normal healthy volunteers will be enrolled for the trial, and we will actually be administering fentanyl to understand how much of this can we block.
The Fentanyl Equation: Science Fights Back
Q: Can you explain a little bit about what this immunotherapy or gene therapy process is?
It's working with the human immune system to create a protective immune response that releases antibodies in the body that bind onto the fentanyl molecule.
Narco-Terrorism Reimagined: Why the Old Rules No Longer Apply
Q: What do you see for the future, and how does society extract or begin to extract itself from this metastasizing cancer?
Dr. Gallagher emphasizes the need for an open discussion on drug policy and enforcement, asserting that society's acceptance of drug use will dictate the path forward.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show concentrates on the illegal opioid supply chain, cartel dynamics, law enforcement perspectives, and public health responses. Episodes frequently feature former agents, police leaders, prevention advocates, and researchers discussing trafficking trends, immunotherapy and treatment innovations, policy gaps, and cross-border cooperation. A standout aspect is the emphasis on practical insights from field experience—ranging from DEA operations and prison informants to community prevention projects—alongside emerging solutions like targeted immunotherapies and coordinated prevention programs. Listeners can expect candid discussions about the evolving drug landscape, with a mix of insider stories, policy critique, and calls for smarter e... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Love Trapped

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this podcast launched 4 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Ralph Ornelas
2. Adam Castillo
3. Jack McFarland
4. Dr. Martin Gallagher
5. Chris Schultz
6. Chris Hudson
7. Collin Gage
8. Larry Kenemore

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