The News Agents SPECIAL REPORT: Has America’s fentanyl crisis landed in the UK?
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Aug 15, 2025 The podcast dives deep into America’s opioid epidemic, spotlighting the chilling reality of fentanyl addiction, particularly in Las Vegas' underground tunnels. Personal stories of struggle illustrate how this crisis is not confined to the U.S., as the emergence of powerful synthetic opioids like nitazenes poses a rising risk in the UK. The discussion raises urgent concerns about the consequences of misguided pharmaceutical practices and the need for societal change to address the burgeoning threat of addiction.
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From Prescription To Street Life
- Giuseppe became addicted after prescribed opioids for a back injury and later lived on the streets.
- He now helps others because he experienced the descent from prescription painkillers to addiction.
Marketing Fueled The Opioid Wave
- Pharma marketing in the 1990s misled doctors and patients that opioids were non-addictive.
- That promotional failure drove a massive rise in prescriptions and subsequent addiction across communities.
Living In The Las Vegas Tunnels
- Many Las Vegas addicts live in flood tunnels to escape heat and hide from view.
- Living underground creates safety and danger, including periodic flash floods that can drown residents.