America faces a brutal addiction crisis. Fentanyl kills about 80,000 people each year. Alcohol use disorder takes even more, around 140,000 lives and injuries. Medication-assisted treatment like Naltrexone could change that. It blocks cravings for opioids and booze. Yet greed and old habits block its spread.
Ben Westoff steps in with his new film, Antagonist. He’s a top investigative journalist. He wrote the bestseller Fentanyl, Inc. His work hit Joe Rogan, New York Times, and more. The movie digs into why Naltrexone stays hidden. It shows real stories of lives saved—and lives lost to bad systems.
Section 1: The Investigative Journalist Uncovers Addiction’s Landscape
From Music Writing to Fentanyl Investigations
Ben Westoff started in music journalism. He covered hip-hop and rave scenes. That’s where he spotted trouble. Kids died from ecstasy pills laced with fentanyl. No one knew about the danger then.
He went deep. Undercover in Chinese drug labs. That work birthed Fentanyl, Inc. in 2019. It blew open the global fentanyl trade.
His path shifted from beats to busts. Now he chases truths others skip.
The Current State of the Opioid and Alcohol Crisis
Things worsened after the book. Overdose deaths hit a peak in 2023. They dipped a bit. Still, numbers stay sky-high.
Fentanyl drives most opioid deaths. Alcohol quietly kills more overall. Few talk about booze’s toll.
Westoff tracks it all. He sees patterns in the pain.
- 80,000 opioid deaths yearly.
- 140,000 alcohol-related losses.
- Crises feed each other in streets and homes.
Westoff’s Mission: Shining Light on Neglected Issues
Ben aims to save lives. He wants folks to know options exist. No need for white-knuckle fights alone.
His film spotlights Naltrexone. It works for opioids and alcohol. Doctors often miss it. Media trashes it.
He pushes awareness. Change starts with facts.
Section 2: Unpacking the Film Antagonist: Naltrexone vs. Agonists
The Definition of Addiction Treatment Modalities: Agonists Explained
Three FDA meds treat opioid use disorder. Methadone, buprenorphine like Suboxone, and Naltrexone.
Methadone and buprenorphine are agonists. They mimic opioids. You stay hooked but get clean supply.
Pros? No street buys. Less crime. Cheaper than jail.
Cons? Lifelong dependence. Daily clinic trips.
The Suppression of Naltrexone (The Antagonist)
Naltrexone fights back as an antagonist. It locks opioid receptors. Heroin or fentanyl bounces off. Like a shield.
For alcohol, it kills the buzz. You sip but feel no high.
The film nails why it flops. Big money backs agonists. Lobby groups bury Naltrexone.
The Methadone Clinic Model: Profit Over Patient Wellness
Methadone demands daily visits. Special clinics only. Lines form at dawn in city streets.
This builds an empire. Clinics bill Medicaid big. They add therapy fees.
Westoff grilled the methadone lobby head. “Why no Naltrexone?” The guy admitted: less profit.
One clinic sits in San Francisco’s drug zone. Patients exit to fentanyl dealers. Perfect trap.
Section 3: Naltrexone Mechanics and Application for Diverse Compulsions
Naltrexone in Practice: Opioids, Alcohol, and Beyond
Take it as a pill or monthly shot, Vivitrol. Shot lasts 30 days. No daily choice to skip.
Blocks opioid highs cold. Alcohol loses its fun. Many moderate after.
Users feel a shift fast. Cravings fade. One guy beat meth with it.
It calms brain impulses. Helps eating disorders too. Sex addiction. Compulsions across the board.
Daily vs. Targeted Dosing: The Sinclair Method
Daily pill guards all day. Build a habit with breakfast.
Sinclair Method targets risks. Pop it before drinks. Breaks the reward loop over time.
Flexibility beats all-or-nothing AA rules. Pick what fits you.
- Daily: Steady shield.
- Targeted: Event prep.
A New Pathway for At-Risk Populations
Prisoners face huge relapse risk. Give Vivitrol before release. Buys time to rebuild.
Many enter jail hooked. Exit to same streets. One shot changes odds.
Film shows the gap. Systems fail here most.
Section 4: Systemic Failures and the Road to Awareness
Where Addiction Treatment Has Failed to Evolve
12-step spots like Betty Ford resist meds. They push total quit. Naltrexone lets you sip safely.
Med school skips addiction training. Docs say “try AA.” That’s it.
Change creeps in slow. But old ways stick.
Key Moments of Clarity in Antagonist
Percy Mensy flipped Ben’s view. Clinic owner in St. Louis. Sees thousands monthly.
He crashed Ben’s book event. Called out methadone myths. Pure passion.
Film stars him. His fire jumps off screen.
The Harsh Reality of Open-Air Drug Markets
San Francisco’s Tenderloin shocks. Drugs sold in daylight near shops.
Ben asked users: Heard of Naltrexone? No. Available? No.
Security watched gear. Streets pulse with pain.
Conclusion: Hope, Action, and Future Projects
Antagonist fights for change. It exposes greed blocking Naltrexone. This cheap generic could cut deaths.
Ben hopes it spreads word. Opioids kill 80k. Alcohol 140k. No more silence.
His next gig? Lives Interrupted. Coffee table book on fentanyl victims. Pics from their best days. Heads to leaders worldwide.
Struggle with cravings? Check Naltrexone. Tell a friend. It worked magic for many.
Watch the film at antagonistfilm.com. Follow Ben at benwestoff.com. See the trailer. Join Patreon for previews.
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