I think it goes all the way to US government control of opioid production in Afghanistan. Much like they did in Vietnam/Laos/cambodia/etc.

They give specific companies license to import opium. They control it from the top. They are the world’s drug dealer. Then they use prohibition, control, distribution, legalization, etc to carry out certain objectives like destroying working class communities, imprisoning certain populations for forced labor, allowing certain well connected corporations or families (sacklers) to become rich, etc etc.

It’s deep for sure. I’m not a conspiracy theorist but if the US government isn’t exposed as controlling the drug market once it falls, i will be pretty surprised. Many incentives line up on their own, but some seem to only line up when actively arranged in certain ways. Iran contra, air america, etc. it comes out once in a while but the whole operation never gets covered widely enough to bring down those who control it.