fentanyl fold

Examples of the “fentanyl fold” have been plastered on social media for years as San Francisco continues to try to get a grip on a highly visible opioid epidemic that claimed the lives of more than 800 people last year.

Here’s why fentanyl users on S.F.’s streets are bent over

Is there a good explanation for why recreational opioid users will sometimes display a "fentanyl fold" where they adopt a heavily bent over posture but are able to remain otherwise standing and balanced?

Opioid "fold" or "lean" physiology? _qua 2025

This phenomenon, often referred to as the “fentanyl fold,” occurs because the drug’s potent effects on the central nervous system cause intense muscle relaxation and loss of motor control. Users lose the ability to maintain proper posture, resulting in the characteristic bending over.

Why Do Fentanyl Users Bend Over | Addiction & Overdose Preston Powell 2025