Unchained: Rewriting a Legacy Beyond Addiction with Chris Schultz

Dec 9, 2025

Generational addiction isn’t just a theory - it’s a reality in homes across America. But what does it take to truly break the cycle?

In this deeply personal episode of The Opioid Matrix, Michael Brown sits down with Chris Schultz, a father, a recovering addict, and a man who began using and trafficking drugs before his 15th birthday.

Chris shares how addiction took root in his family, what it cost him as a young man, and how years of therapy, faith, and community support helped him rebuild his life. Today, he runs an electrical contracting company, CJS Power, Lighting & Design, that hires and mentors people in recovery - offering not just employment, but purpose.

Together, they explore:

Why trauma in childhood leaves lasting scars
How 30-day programs often fall short for long-term healing
What accountability, structure, and second chances really look like
Why trades and job skills may be the missing link in recovery

This is a raw and hopeful story - not just about addiction, but about what’s possible when recovery is backed by real resources, supportive communities, and lived experience.

Listen and subscribe on your favorite podcast player:

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

Views expressed in this material are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Rigaku Analytical Devices.

To make sure you never miss an episode of The Opioid Matrix, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website, or your favorite podcast player here: https://plinkhq.com/i/1625927161?to=page

Michael Brown

Michael W. Brown is the global director of counter-narcotics technology at Rigaku Analytical Devices. He has a distinguished career spanning more than 32 years as a Special Agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He served as the country attaché in India and Myanmar; During his tour in Myanmar, he provided foreign advisory support for counter narcotic enforcement that, to date, has resulted in the interdiction of over US$250 million in precursor chemicals and implementing the regions first use of Raman spectroscopy to degrade the supply chain for narcotics production. He was also part of a special specialized counter narcotics unit operating in the jungles of South America tasked with locating and destroying drug labs and narcotic supply chains. Most recently he was the DEA Headquarters staff coordinator for the Office of Foreign Operations for the Middle East-Europe-Afghanistan-India. Michael is a graduate of the United States Ranger Training Battalion and has a master’s degree in interdisciplinary technology and management from the University of Eastern Michigan.

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