From The New York Times, I'm Sabrina Taverny-Sea, and this is The Daily.

As the epidemic of fentanyl use in America continues unabated, causing tens of thousands

of deaths per year, lawmakers and law enforcement agencies are holding one group increasingly

responsible, drug users themselves.

Today, my colleague Eli Saslo, on a man whose friendship ended in tragedy, and a new set

of laws that say he is the one to blame.

It's Friday, September 22nd.

Eli, welcome to the show.

Thanks so much, Sabrina.

Before we start, I want you to tell me a little bit about what you do.

So I've been an admirer of your writing for a very long time.

But I'm curious how you would define your beat.

Well, first of all, that's so nice.

Thank you.

I write about the big issues in the country, the big tension points.

But I do it through really personal, intimate, human stories.

I try to think about who are the people sort of in this swirl of the big tensions in our

country?

And how can I find them?

How can I find them at a moment of uncertainty?

And right now, one of the biggest issues in our country is fentanyl.

You know, it's become a massive public health crisis.

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