In this episode, host Vanda Felbab-Brown speaks with Dr. Alex Stevens, criminology professor at the University of Sheffield, about the emerging threat of synthetic opioids in Europe, particularly fentanyl and nitazenes. Stevens argues that the greater availability of treatment access and harm reduction programs in Europe than in the United States could reduce the severity of a growing flow of synthetic opioids into Europe. Felbab-Brown and Stevens also discuss the challenges of controlling synthetic drug supply chains and various law enforcement actions taken in Europe as well as the role of Afghanistan’s opium poppy ban.

Show notes and transcript.

Brought to you by the Brookings Podcast Network.

Learn more at: Brookings.edu/KillingDrugs

In this episode of The Killing Drugs, Vanda Felbab-Brown talks with Fred Dews about the role of Mexican criminal groups in the U.S. opioid crisis and U.S-Mexico anti-crime cooperation. She explains how, in addition to dominating fentanyl and methamphetamine production and supply to the United States, the Sinaloa cartel and cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación have expanded their role in other illegal as well as legal economies in Mexico and are building up political and institutional influence. Felbab-Brown also discusses the state of the U.S.-Mexico counternarcotics and law enforcement cooperation as well as the role of Chinese money laundering networks in the fentanyl trade.

Show notes and transcript.

Brought to you by the Brookings Podcast Network.

Learn more at: Brookings.edu/KillingDrugs

In this episode, the podcast roles are reversed as show host Vanda Felbab-Brown is interviewed by Fred Dews, show producer and multimedia project manager at Brookings, about her research on the evolution of illicit networks and supply chains in China that fuel the U.S. fentanyl and opioid crises. They also discuss the evolution and complexities U.S.-China counter-narcotics cooperation and its prospects. Felbab-Brown also assesses some of the accomplishments of the restarted bilateral cooperation.

Show notes and transcript.

Brought to you by the Brookings Podcast Network.

Learn more at: Brookings.edu/KillingDrugs