Fentanyl Crisis: Over 200 Deaths a Day Plague American Society

An abnormal situation where nearly 200 people die each day

A woman who appears to be bent in half (shown in the photo above) — not tying her shoes, nor striking a dance pose, but standing frozen in this position — gives a terrifying impression of the final symptoms of synthetic drug abuse.

This is a late-stage symptom of fentanyl abuse, a synthetic drug that has become a serious social issue across the United States. Kazuto Maejima, a professor at Sophia University who specializes in American politics, explains:

“It is said that fentanyl started to spread around 2016, towards the end of the Obama administration, when it was brought in by Mexican drug cartels. The number of deaths has been increasing year by year, and in 2023, over 70,000 people lost their lives due to fentanyl abuse. Currently, nearly 200 people are dying every day, creating an abnormal situation.”

Fentanyl is originally a medical drug used for pain relief in cancer treatment. However, what is spreading is not the medically prescribed fentanyl, but that which is being trafficked by drug smuggling organizations. Dr. Toshihiko Matsumoto, a psychiatrist and substance abuse support specialist, explains:

“During the pandemic, as people stayed home, more individuals began to numb their loneliness with drugs. Drug trafficking organizations took advantage of this and flooded the market with cheap, low-quality fentanyl mixed with cocaine and methamphetamine.”

Fentanyl can be injected, inhaled, or taken as a pill, with one dose costing about $10. Many young people are among the abusers. With promises of an easy high and the ability to forget unpleasant feelings, many people casually try it. However, fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin, and just 2 milligrams can be lethal. There are cases where a single use results in death.

The drug is highly addictive, and when taken, it causes the body to become completely limp, making it difficult to stand up. Abusers end up in a zombie-like state, standing in unnatural postures or stumbling around, as seen at the beginning.

“President Trump claimed that fentanyl’s raw materials are made in China, processed in Mexico or Canada, and brought into the United States. This is why fentanyl is called modern opium. It has spread to cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Portland, which was known for its safety. As a result, people who lost their jobs have become homeless, worsening public safety. We have also heard that fentanyl is circulating in Japan’s entertainment districts,” says a reporter from a national newspaper’s foreign desk.

The leading cause of death in the U.S. for people aged 18 to 49 is drug use, including fentanyl, making the situation critical. Even when traveling for tourism, the temptation is present. One should never be tempted to try it.

From the March 7, 2025, issue of “FRIDAY”