America is in the midst of a new drug crisis. Earlier this year, the CDC reported a staggering 107,000 overdose deaths in 2021. That's one every five minutes. It's up almost 15% from 2020 and nearly 70% of those deaths involved fentanyl. 

On today's episode, Duane speaks with Sam Quinones who has been sounding the alarm for years. A journalist and storyteller, Sam is a former LA Times reporter and author of four acclaimed books of narrative nonfiction, including New York Times bestseller and National Book Critics Circle Award winner, Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic. She’s also the author of the National Book Critics Circle Award finalist, The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth, which captures the devastation of this new epidemic of synthetic drugs, but at the same time, offers a lot of hope.

Duane and Sam explore the root of this whole opioid crisis and the need for us, as a society, to embrace recovery without anonymity, no more euphemisms, and no more hiding. We all have to get out of the shame that comes with addiction. We’re also living in a culture of addictive stuff where fast food, sugars, and pornography are legal. All this boils down to social change that is best achieved in small ways and small daily efforts – and it all starts with you!

In this episode, you will hear:

• The supply of synthetic drugs in Mexico
• How his book focuses on the message of hope in the midst of the opioid era
• Dr. Lou Ortenzio’s story of addiction and recovery
• Getting rid of the anonymity and euphemisms
• How we’re living in a culture of addictive stuff
• Becoming a master of your own fate
• What you can do on an individual level

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Supporting Resources:

https://samquinones.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samquinonesjournalist 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samquinones_author/ 

Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic

https://www.amazon.com/Dreamland-YA-Americas-Opiate-Epidemic/dp/1547601310

 The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth

https://www.amazon.com/Least-Us-Tales-America-Fentanyl-ebook/dp/B0932RRNVL?ref_=ast_sto_dp

 NovusMindfulLife.com

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

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