Overview

• The National Police Agency disclosed 17 arrests for illegal possession or use of medical fentanyl by ten prefectural police departments between 2000 and 2024.
• Healthcare professionals accounted for 15 of the cases, while two involved patients diverting prescribed fentanyl for non-medical use.
• The agency confirmed there have been no incidents of smuggling or abuse of non-regulated fentanyl products in Japan.
• Notable cases include a January arrest of a Miyagi anesthesiologist who self-injected fentanyl and a 2023 Tokyo incident where misuse of a fentanyl patch resulted in a partner’s death.
• Despite finding no widespread domestic abuse, the NPA pledged to maintain strict regulatory enforcement and continued monitoring.