Synthetic Opioids
This six-part podcast series explores the rise of synthetic opioids—from their pharmaceutical origins to their devastating impact on communities across the world. With deep dives into fentanyl’s potency, global trafficking routes, and the growing death toll, each episode sheds light on the crisis gripping public health. Hear stories of survival, the fight for recovery, and the hope for a future beyond addiction.
Episodes
The Supply Chain – From China to Your Neighborhood
This episode traces the complex global network that brings synthetic opioids from manufacturing facilities to local communities. Dotty Wellman examines how precursor chemicals from legitimate industries become fentanyl through small-scale synthesis operations, the role of darknet markets and cryptocurrency in enabling distribution, and how Mexican cartels adapted their operations to exploit synthe
Fentanyl – The Game Changer
Hosted by Dotty Wellman, this episode explores why fentanyl revolutionized the opioid crisis. With potency 50-100 times greater than morphine, fentanyl's synthetic nature made it easy to manufacture and distribute, completely disrupting traditional drug markets. The episode examines fentanyl's molecular chemistry, its rapid infiltration into all drug supplies, the resulting explosion in overdose d
Origins – From Laboratories to Streets
Join Dotty Wellman as she unravels the fascinating yet tragic story of how synthetic opioids transformed from medical miracles to street-level killers. This deep dive explores the 1958 discovery of fentanyl by Belgian chemist Paul Janssen, originally designed as a breakthrough pain medication 50-100 times more potent than morphine. Dotty walks you through the science behind these synthetic compoun
