The Need for a Narco-Hazmat Response to the Opioid Epidemic
The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit HoleShow Notes
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 health crisis? Or all of the above?
Our guest, hazmat expert David DiGregorio, brings a career of unique experience that includes serving in the U.S. Army's medical field and as Director of Hazmat Emergency Response in Massachusetts. With a background in medical, CBRN, and hazmat - David has a special skill set in improving readiness and response tactics in emergency situations.
Together we discuss the fentanyl crisis from all angles, including its potential weaponization and the challenges faced by law enforcement and first responders. David reveals how hazmat teams are working hand in hand with law enforcement to combat clandestine drug labs, as well as the importance of breaking down silos among various agencies, the obstacles around fentanyl testing, and the critical need for improved communication.
Join us as we discuss: What hazmat means in today's context The role of technology in the field Innovative strategies for tackling the fentanyl crisis Complexities of regulating substances like xylazine The need for a comprehensive approach to address this growing epidemic 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.
More from The Opioid Matrix: A Journey Into the Rabbit Hole
Is the fentanyl crisis simply a drug epidemic—or something far more strategic?
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.
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 Story of Leadership in Crisis and the American Spirit Abroad, a leadership memoir shaped by his experience guiding an American business community through Myanmar’s post-coup collapse.
What happens when a fully synthetic drug turns organized crime into an industrial-scale, cross-border killing machine?
What happens when the world’s most dangerous networks evolve faster than the systems meant to stop them?