The fentanyl crisis in the U.S. is becoming a subject of mockery across the globe.
A video, capturing millions of views, features Japanese creators mimicking a peculiar and troubling sight often seen in places like San Francisco and New York—drug users in a daze, often slumped but somehow still managing to stay upright.
“Japanese social media influencers are trending for poking fun at American fentanyl users seen crouching in public,” remarked one viewer on X. The video showcases a young woman from Okinawa and has attracted over 2.5 million views.
This hunched position, often resulting from heroin or fentanyl use, is being referred to as the “Fentifold.”
Recognizing the behavior
Another viral clip on TikTok, captioned “bringing American culture to Japan,” captures people imitating these drug users in typical American settings like subway stations. This clip has clocked more than 1.2 million views.
Further videos depict individuals in various locations—parking lots, city centers, and public areas—while featuring a popular Japanese tune that blends elements from several different tracks.
Monitoring the situation
The uptick in drug seizures began during the Trump presidency and is projected to continue slightly increasing into fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
Should this trend persist, the quantity of drugs confiscated is expected to rise sharply by 2026, according to statistics from federal authorities.
In October 2025, for instance, around 51,500 pounds of drugs were seized, up from 40,700 pounds in October 2024 and just 37,400 in October 2023 during President Biden’s administration.
Addressing overconsumption
Notably, however, fentanyl remains one of the least seized substances by weight, likely due to its high potency. Marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine follow suit in terms of amounts seized.
On a positive note, overdose deaths in the U.S. fell significantly from April 2024 to April 2025, decreasing by roughly 24.5%, as reported by the CDC. After peaking in August 2023, the number of overdoses has seen a decline.
States reporting the most significant reductions include Louisiana, New Hampshire, New York, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
