Last February, I interviewed Evan Ratliff, author of The Mastermind. The book tells the story of how lone programmer Paul La Roux, built an online drug empire responsible for dumping millions of pain pills into the U.S. La Roux enticed hundreds of doctors to take part in his scheme and wasn’t caught until 2012. 

During my interview with Ratliff, he speculated on how La Roux’s cooperation with the government to bring down the people in his organization would affect his sentencing.

Last month we finally got our answer, as La Roux went before Judge Ronnie Abrams for sentencing. Today, we revisit our story on The Mastermind and talk with Evan Rattliff about the bizarre twists in the La Roux proceedings. 

For more on the Paul Le Roux story, and the fate of the mastermind, join us on this week’s PPT podcast episode.

Ep. 284 - Sentencing The Mastermind

The Cover2 Podcast is an ongoing series of interviews with people who are making a difference in the fight against opioid addiction. The Cover2 Podcast seeks to raise awareness and to connect users and their families with resources that can literally save a life. Listen to our most recent episodes below, and please consider donating to support this cause.

Health & Fitness

In October 2018, the Justice Department's Criminal Division created the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO), Strike Force. This team consists of federal agents, prosecutors, and specialists from different government departments. Together, they combine data analytics and law enforcement to spot dangerous prescription patterns and quickly remove bad actors from the Application Region.

In its early operation, the ARPO Strike Force brought charges against 60 individuals. Combined, those charged wrote 350,000 prescriptions, supplying 24,000 patients with 32 million pills. With their collaboration, the ARPO Strike Force has streamlined several years worth of traditional work, in a matter of months.

Joining us today is Joe Beemsterboer, Sr. Deputy Chief of the Fraud Section of the Department of Justice. Together we discuss the inner workings of this data-driven program that gets results.

Tune in this week for a detailed look at this revolutionary program, dedicated to ending the opioid epidemic as soon as possible.

Ep. 276 - Strike Force Stops Flow of Illicit Opioids

For the last few months, I’ve been covering COVID-19’s impact on the opioid crisis. With overdoses up 42% in May alone, it’s projected 75,000 additional lives will be lost to alcohol and drug overdose because of the pandemic.

One resource that could help prevent this is a methodology for addiction treatment that has existed for over 45 years but has been relentlessly shunned by the medical establishment.

This unique, non-pharmacological treatment is called Neuroelectric Therapy (NET) and I first learned about it last month, after receiving an email from 1A Productions. They had just released “The Final Fix”, a documentary following 5 victims of long-term OUD as they trial NET, in hopes of reclaiming their lives.


Joining me on this episode of the Cover 2 Podcast is: The CEO of Izaiah House, Mark LaPalme. One of the five participants in the NET treatment study, Robert Capley.  Treatment specialist and NET doubter turned believer, Matt LaRocco. And producer of The Final Fix, Norman Stone. 

Together, they take me on a deep-dive into Neuroelectric Therapy and the differences between NET and other treatment methods. We also explore why, even after 45 years, NET is still little known.

For answers to these questions and more, join us for this week’s episode of the Cover2 Resources PPT podcast.

Ep. 283 - Obscure Treatment Could be The Final Fix for Addiction

Over the last 90 plus days, much has changed in our world. COVID19 has forced many of us to endure unfamiliar hardships and inconveniences. But our most vulnerable populations, such as those struggling with OUD, have been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus. 

To better understand the impact of coronavirus on the opioid epidemic, we teamed up with some of the nation’s top opioid epidemic experts and former guests of the podcast: The Co-Director of Opioid Policy Research at Brandeis University, Dr. Andrew Kolodny. New York Times Editorial Writer and Bestselling author of Dopesick, Beth Macy. Former Clinton White House aide, author of American Fix, and recovery advocate, Ryan Hampton.

Together, meeting online for last week’s live webinar, we discussed some of the most pressing questions on the current state of the Opioid Crisis: How has COVID-19 affected those struggling with OUD? How has the pandemic changed the way we treat opioid addiction? What has the struggle against coronavirus taught us about fighting the opioid crisis?

For answers to these questions and more on our conversation, join us for this special episode of the Cover2 Resources PPT Podcast.

Ep. 282 - The Impact of COVID-19 on the Opioid Crisis

In 2018, bestselling author Ryan Hampton spoke with me about his struggles with heroin addiction while working as a White House aide and how he become a national advocate for those in recovery.

We hope you can join us on June 25th for a special live webinar to discuss the pandemic’s impact on the opioid epidemic and the odds of recovery in America today.

Ep. 284 - Sentencing The Mastermind

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