200 Deaths Every Day [Modern Opium] Synthetic Drug Fentanyl Undermines U.S. Society

An “unusual situation” with nearly 200 deaths in one day.

This woman (above), with her body bent in half, is tying her shoelaces. She is not tying her shoelaces or striking a dance pose.

This is a terminal symptom of the synthetic drug fentanyl abuse. The fentanyl epidemic is now a serious social problem throughout the United States. Kazuhiro Maejima, a professor at Sophia University and a specialist in American politics, explains.

It is said that fentanyl was brought in from a Mexican drug cartel around 2004, at the end of the Obama administration, and began to spread. The number of deaths has been increasing every year, and in 2011, more than 70,000 people lost their lives due to fentanyl abuse. Currently, nearly 200 people die in a single day, which is an anomaly.

Fentanyl is originally a medical drug used for pain relief in cancer treatment. However, the drug is not prescribed by medical institutions, but is sold by drug traffickers. Dr. Toshihiko Matsumoto, a psychiatrist who supports drug addicts, explains.

The COVID-19 crisis has led to the development of stay-homes, and more and more people are using drugs to distract themselves from their loneliness. The traffickers, who were aware of this situation, distributed large quantities of cheap and crude fentanyl mixed with cocaine and methamphetamine.

Fentanyl can be injected, inhaled, or taken in pill form, and a single dose costs about $10. Many abusers are young people. Many people are attracted to fentanyl because it is cheap, gets them high, and helps them forget about bad things, but it is 50 times more potent than heroin, with a lethal dose of only 2 mg. It is 50 times more potent than heroin, with a lethal dose of only 2 mg, and some people have lost their lives after just one dose.

It is highly addictive, and after taking it, one’s entire body loses strength and one cannot stand properly. They stand in unnatural positions or walk unsteadily, just like zombies.

President Trump claims that the raw materials for fentanyl are made in China, processed in Mexico and Canada, and brought into the country. This is why it is called ‘the opium of our time. The epidemic has spread to urban areas such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, and even to Portland, which used to be known for its safety, causing people to lose their jobs and become homeless, leading to a deterioration of public safety. Even in Japan, I hear that fentanyl is already being sold in downtown areas,” said a reporter from the foreign affairs section of a national newspaper.

Drug use, including fentanyl, is the leading cause of death among 18- to 49-year-olds in the United States, and there is literally not a moment to lose. Even when traveling for tourism purposes, the temptation is there. Never get your hands on it.

From the March 7, 2025 issue of FRIDAY