The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole Rigaku

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 into the history and trends of marijuana with Jaime Zerbe, Chief of Staff at Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM).  Sam is made up of an alliance of organizations and individuals dedicated to a health-first approach to marijuana policy.  Jaime shares her perspective on marijuana consumption based on science.
Join us as we discuss: 
How marijuana is often marketedThe cultural shift toward normalizing drug useThe analysis of marijuana legalization
To make sure you never miss an episode of The Opioid Matrix, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website, or your favorite podcast player. 

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Opioid Matrix in your favorite podcast player. 

Find purpose from loss

In this powerful conversation, our guest Michele Hein, shares her tragic story as a mother who has faced unimaginable loss and emerged as a front-line activist in the battle against Fentanyl. After losing her beloved son, Tyler, to fentanyl poisoning, Michele's grief is transformed into advocacy as she leads the charge with Fentanyl Free Communities to save other families from a similar fate.

As fentanyl-related deaths skyrocket, we’ll examine why existing legislation falls short and what it truly means to approach substance use disorder and mental health stigmas with hope for substantive change. This episode is not just a discussion; it's a call to arms. We can’t afford to look away any longer.

Join us as we discuss:
The piercing insight Michele provides on how fentanyl isn't just a poisoning crisis but a national security threat that's been largely ignored.Broken policies that are causing a delay in the response to the opioid crisis The cohesive work between Fentanyl Free Communities and their collaboration with law enforcement to bring stability and hope to those in need.
To make sure you never miss an episode of The Opioid Matrix, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website, or your favorite podcast player. 

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Opioid Matrix in your favorite podcast player. 

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 the global drug trade, estimated at a staggering $2 trillion that is led by some formidable players who have mastered money laundering operations...

Listen in as Gary Lawrence draws from his own experiences as a retired DEA Supervisory Special Agent, current Financial Crimes Advisor, and Veteran,  to share how crucial it is that we stop the enemy at America’s gates. Gary reveals the secrets behind Chinese money laundering and how current government policies could be enabling addiction, as well as encouraging our enemies to keep pursuing drug trafficking.

Join us as we discuss:
Gary’s background in law enforcement and the DEASynergy Between Mexican Cartels and Chinese CompaniesThe pressing need for strategic policy response to drug trafficking The perceived reduction in legal risk leading to increased drug use in America
To make sure you never miss an episode of The Opioid Matrix, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website, or your favorite podcast player. 

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Opioid Matrix in your favorite podcast player. 

Dr. Cristina Utti,  an educator and author of 'Breaking Infinity.'  speaks from the heart about her journey through her near fatal substance abuse and eating disorders. Together we’ll reflect on the complex web of family dynamics and the repeating cycles of behavior passed down through generations.

We dive deep into the reality of growing up in a broken home, the normalization of risky behaviors among our youth, and the pressing need for supportive conversations between parents and children.

Join us as we discuss:Cristina's Childhood and Personal Journey to RecoveryThe Effects of a Broken Family and How to Prevent it The Danger of Potential Drug Addiction for Future Generations
To make sure you never miss an episode of The Opioid Matrix, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website, or your favorite podcast player. 

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Opioid Matrix in your favorite podcast player. 

If you would like to know more or purchase Dr. Crisitina Utti's book, Breaking Infinity: A Memoir, you can do so by going to Amazon.com. 

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 to support others in the fight against opioid addiction. She discusses the importance of long-term recovery programs and the need for supportive communities. Julie goes into detail about the stigma surrounding substance use disorder and the need for open conversations and advocacy. She also highlights the role of parents in prevention, education and the challenges of modernization and technology on family dynamics. 

Join us as we discuss:
Exploring the unseen impact of addiction in small-town America.Julie Waters' heartfelt story of loss and her efforts to fight addiction through the Jace Waters Foundation.Insights into the rising danger of fentanyl and the complex journey toward recovery.

To make sure you never miss an episode of The Opioid Matrix, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website, or your favorite podcast player. 

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Opioid Matrix in your favorite podcast player. 

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

In today’s episode, Javon Williams, Founder of the Lamont Meyers Foundation, bravely opens her heart about the heart-wrenching loss of her son to Fentanyl poisoning and the journey of resilience this has led her to. Javon highlights the danger of the lack of public awareness surrounding the opioid crisis and emphasizes why we need to speak out to bring the invisible enemy, and the network under which it operates, out of the shadows.

Join us as we discuss:
Challenges of parenting amidst societal pressure on drug abuse and consumptionThe urgent need for community education, awareness and collective action in combating the opioid crisisThe emotional trauma and ongoing struggle experienced by parents who have lost children to drugsWhy prescription pills can become a death threat nowadays
To make sure you never miss an episode of The Opioid Matrix, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website, or your favorite podcast player.

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for The Opioid Matrix in your favorite podcast player.