This investigation examines the global supply chain of heroin, tracing its path from cultivation in Turkey to the fatal consequences for American users. The Newsday editorial team utilizes investigative reporting techniques to expose the individuals and organizations profiting from the illicit drug trade. By documenting the entire pipeline, the authors argue that the heroin epidemic is a systemic failure involving international actors and local distributors.

Experts recognize this work as a significant example of investigative journalism that earned the Pulitzer Prize for its depth and impact. Readers frequently note the stark, documentary nature of the prose and the historical importance of the evidence presented.