by Brandon Burley and The Redemption Project
Nineteen deaths tied to a newer synthetic opioid.
One thing the public rarely sees: forensic labs often encounter new chemistry long before public warning systems catch up.
The science usually arrives before the headlines.
I am a retired detective and criminal justice / government educator based in Tennessee. I am a commentary write for Tennessee Lookout and a weekly columnist with Knox TN Today. My work examines public policy, public safety systems and civic responsibility. My reporting and commentary have also appeared in Governing, The Arizona Capitol Times, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Police1, among other state and regional outlets.
