A Flood of New, Deadlier Drugs

About this episode

<p>As America is beginning to wrap its arms around the fentanyl crisis, a new kind of drug epidemic is emerging. It is faster, more addictive, more lethal and powered by synthetic drugs — substances that can be made almost anywhere.</p> <p>Matt Richtel, a science and health reporter, and Azam Ahmed, an international investigative correspondent, have been pursuing <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/spotlight/new-drug-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a series of stories</a> looking at the rise of ultra-potent lab-made drugs.</p> <p>On today’s episode of “The Daily,” Azam explains how these drugs are beginning to take hold and brings us inside the effort to do something about it.</p> <p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/azam-ahmed" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Azam Ahmed</strong></a>, an international investigative correspondent for The New York Times.</p> <p>Background reading: </p> <ul> <li>No pills or needles, just paper: This is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/21/world/deadly-drugs-paper.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">how deadly drugs are changing</a>.</li> </ul> <p>Photo: Meridith Kohut for The New York Times</p> <p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>nytimes.com/thedaily</strong></a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p> <p><p>Subscribe today at <a href="http://nytimes.com/podcasts">nytimes.com/podcasts</a> or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher">https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher</a>. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.</p></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>