From college dorms to quiet suburbs, fentanyl's reach no longer fits a stereotype.

This week on Pathology with Dr. Priya, a Zone 7 series, Sheryl McCollum and Dr. Priya Banerjee confront the reality of a Providence College house party that nearly claimed seven young lives.

Together they discussed the chemistry, economics, and criminal psychology behind modern synthetic drugs, showing how a single white powder can conceal a fatal mix, and how dealers prioritize profit over safety. These drugs do not discriminate; they affect every community, every family, and every socioeconomic group.

For parents, this episode serves as a reminder that prevention begins long before a crisis. Awareness, honest conversation, and early education remain the most powerful safeguards against tragedy.





Highlights

• (0:00) Welcome to Zone 7’s Pathology with Dr. Priya: “’Tis the season”: why overdoses spike between Thanksgiving and New Year’s

• (0:45) Seven Providence College students found unresponsive at a house party

• (3:00) Fentanyl's evolution from heroin corridors to every college town in America

• (5:00) Cutting agents and chemical roulette: what's really in the “white powder”

• (7:00) Xylazine, ketamine, and the rise of “zombie drugs” and clandestine labs

• (11:15) Dealers, profit, and the deadly absence of quality control

• (12:30) "Drugs don't discriminate": how overdose affects every class and community

• (16:30) As holiday parties ramp up, Sheryl and Dr. Priya address alcohol, impaired driving, and false confidence behind the wheel• (18:15) “There ain’t a drug dealer out there that cares about anybody they’ve ever sold to”: how profit drives addiction across every demographic

• (22:15) Final reflections: stay aware, stay connected, and keep the season focused on life, not loss



About the Hosts

Dr. Priya Banerjee is a board-certified forensic pathologist with extensive experience in death investigation, clinical forensics, and courtroom testimony. A graduate of Johns Hopkins, she served for over a decade as Rhode Island’s state medical examiner and now runs a private forensic pathology practice. Her work includes military deaths, and high-profile investigations. Dr. Priya has also been featured as a forensic expert on platforms such as CrimeOnline and Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. She is a dedicated educator, animal lover, and proud mom.


Website: anchorforensicpathology.com 

Twitter/X: @Autopsy_MD



Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a Metro Atlanta Police Department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than 4 decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing. Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.



Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com

Twitter/X: @ColdCaseTips

Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

📚 Preorder Sheryl’s upcoming book, 

Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Lessons in Life, Justice, and Joy from a Forensic Scientist, releasing May 2026 from Simon and Schuster.

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Swans-Dont-Swim-in-a-Sewer/Sheryl-Mac-McCollum/9798895652824

 

From college dorms to quiet suburbs, fentanyl's reach no longer fits a stereotype.
This week on Pathology with Dr.&nbsp;Priya, a Zone 7 series, Sheryl McCollum and Dr. Priya Banerjee confront the reality of a Providence College house&nbsp;party that nearly claimed seven young lives.
Together they discussed the chemistry, economics, and criminal&nbsp;psychology behind modern synthetic drugs, showing how a single white powder can conceal a fatal mix, and how&nbsp;dealers prioritize profit over safety. These drugs do not discriminate; they affect every community, every family, and&nbsp;every socioeconomic group.
For parents, this episode serves as a reminder that prevention begins long before a&nbsp;crisis. Awareness, honest conversation, and early education remain the most powerful safeguards against tragedy.
 
Highlights
&bull; (0:00) Welcome to Zone 7&rsquo;s Pathology with Dr. Priya: &ldquo;&rsquo;Tis the season&rdquo;: why overdoses spike between&nbsp;Thanksgiving and New Year&rsquo;s
&bull; (0:45) Seven Providence College students found unresponsive at a house party
&bull; (3:00) Fentanyl's evolution from heroin corridors to every college town in America
&bull; (5:00) Cutting agents and chemical roulette: what's really in the &ldquo;white powder&rdquo;
&bull; (7:00) Xylazine, ketamine, and the rise of &ldquo;zombie drugs&rdquo; and clandestine labs
&bull; (11:15) Dealers, profit, and the deadly absence of quality control
&bull; (12:30) "Drugs don't discriminate": how overdose affects every class and community
&bull; (16:30) As holiday parties ramp up, Sheryl and Dr. Priya address alcohol, impaired driving, and false confidence behind the wheel&bull; (18:15) &ldquo;There ain&rsquo;t a drug dealer out there that cares about anybody they&rsquo;ve ever sold to&rdquo;: how profit drives&nbsp;addiction across every demographic
&bull; (22:15) Final reflections: stay aware, stay connected, and keep the season focused on life, not loss 
About the Hosts
Dr. Priya Banerjee is a board-certified forensic pathologist with extensive experience in death investigation, clinical forensics, and courtroom testimony. A graduate of Johns Hopkins, she served for over a decade as Rhode Island&rsquo;s state medical examiner and now runs a private forensic pathology practice. Her work includes military deaths, and high-profile investigations. Dr. Priya has also been featured as a forensic expert on platforms such as CrimeOnline and Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. She is a dedicated educator, animal lover, and proud mom.
 Website: anchorforensicpathology.com&nbsp;
Twitter/X: @Autopsy_MD 
Sheryl &ldquo;Mac&rdquo; McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a Metro Atlanta Police Department and the director&nbsp;of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With&nbsp;more than 4 decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing. Her work on high-profile cases,&nbsp;including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore&rsquo;s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her&nbsp;Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023. 
Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com
Twitter/X: @ColdCaseTips
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast
📚 Preorder Sheryl&rsquo;s upcoming book,&nbsp;
Swans Don&rsquo;t Swim in a Sewer: Lessons in Life, Justice, and Joy from a Forensic Scientist, releasing May 2026 from Simon and Schuster.
<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Swans-Dont-Swim-in-a-Sewer/Sheryl-Mac-McCollum/9798895652824">https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Swans-Dont-Swim-in-a-Sewer/Sheryl-Mac-</a><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Swans-Dont-Swim-in-a-Sewer/Sheryl-Mac-McCollum/9798895652824">McCollum/9798895652824</a>
&nbsp;

Work a cold case alongside investigator Sheryl “Mac” McCollum, Director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute. Every week, Sheryl dives into her cold case files alongside accomplished guests to look for clues into unsolved murders, missing people, and more. This ain’t just a podcast but a war room. Sheryl opens her cold case files, her heart and her little black book! You will quickly realize Zone 7 is not a place but a lifestyle!

Work a cold case alongside investigator Sheryl “Mac” McCollum, Director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute. Every week, Sheryl dives into her cold case files alongside accomplished guests to look for clues into unsolved murders, missing people, and more. This ain’t just a podcast but a war room. Sheryl opens her cold case files, her heart and her little black book! You will quickly realize Zone 7 is not a place but a lifestyle!

Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum

Seven Overdose at Providence College House Party: Pathology with Dr. Priya

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a4a2d128-75bc-4eee-af9f-b3ae0150ec05/transcript

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