An undercover investigation. A global drug trade. A deadly epidemic.

In this BS Free MD encore episode, Drs. May and Tim Hindmarsh revisit their eye-opening conversation with investigative journalist and Fentanyl, Inc. author Ben Westhoff, whose reporting exposed the hidden networks behind the rise of synthetic opioids.

Westhoff takes us inside his extraordinary investigation, which included creating an online identity on the dark web, posing as a drug dealer, and infiltrating a Chinese drug laboratory. His research reveals how rogue chemists, international suppliers, and illicit drug networks helped fuel the fentanyl crisis.

In Part 1, we explore the origins of fentanyl, the emergence of novel psychoactive substances, and the dangerous evolution of the opioid epidemic.

In This Episode:

• How fentanyl became a major force in the opioid epidemic
• Ben Westhoff's undercover investigation inside Chinese drug operations
• The role of rogue chemists and synthetic drug manufacturers
• How the dark web transformed illicit drug distribution
• The global networks behind fentanyl and other emerging synthetic drugs
• Why understanding the origins of the crisis matters

About Our Guest

Ben Westhoff is an award-winning investigative journalist and author of Fentanyl, Inc.: How Rogue Chemists Created the Deadliest Wave of the Opioid Epidemic. His reporting has informed discussions with policymakers and government officials, and he has appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience and NPR.

Connect with Ben Westhoff:

Website: https://www.benwesthoff.com

Book: https://www.benwesthoff.com/fentanyl-inc

Listen to the Original Episode:

https://www.bsfreemd.com/podcast/episode/3af9f723/10-fentanyl-inc-with-ben-westhoff

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