Nov 16, 2023
Ben Westhoff is a best-selling investigative journalist focusing
on culture, drugs, and poverty.
Ben’s book Fentanyl, Inc.: How Rogue Chemists Created the
Deadliest Wave of the Opioid Epidemic was the culmination of a
four-year investigation into the worst drug crisis in American
history, an investigation that included Ben making an undercover
visit to Chinese drug factories. His latest book, Little
Brother: Love, Tragedy, and My Search for Truth tells the
story of Ben’s search for his little brother’s killer.
Ben is currently working on a documentary, Antagonist, about
naltrexone, an opioid treatment medicine that some have called a
“wonder drug.”
Ben joins the show to discuss the failure of the War on Drugs, the
role played by Big Pharma, how he speaks to his children about
drugs, what most Americans misunderstand about poverty, and MUCH
more.
Important Links:
Show Notes:
- The Worst Drug Crisis in World History
- How China and Fentanyl Are Connected
- Why Can’t the USA Stop This?
- The Failure of the War on Drugs; Better Solutions
- Vivitrol: a Wonder Drug?
- Finding Better Ways to Care For the Vulnerable
- Free Markets & Big Pharma
- How Ben Speaks to His Children About Drugs
- Innovation & Stigmatization
- How Harm Reduction Can Help
- What Has Happened to San Francisco?
- Could Decriminalization Work?
- Ben’s Hunt For His Little Brother’s Killer
- What Most Americans Misunderstand About Poverty; How Listeners Can Help
- How Ben’s Documentary Can Help
- Ben as Emperor Of The World
- MORE!
Books Mentioned:
- Fentanyl, Inc.: How Rogue Chemists Created the Deadliest Wave of the Opioid Epidemic; by Ben Westhoff
- Little Brother: Love, Tragedy, and My Search for Truth; by Ben Westhoff
- Original Gangstas: Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and the Birth of West Coast Rap; by Ben Westhoff
- Thank You For Smoking; by Christopher Buckley