Former NBA guard Nate Robinson recently used his platform to shed light on the devastating impact of fentanyl addiction. On Instagram, Robinson shared a disturbing video from Philadelphia that showed individuals slumped over and staggering in public, their movements eerily resembling “zombies.”
The clip was set to Rae Sremmurd’s hit song Black Beatles, the same track once associated with the lighthearted “Mannequin Challenge.” The mix of the upbeat song with such grim scenes made the footage even more jarring.
“Man who put this music over this post? Smh. Swaelee the song goes crazy tho … they need to leave that fentanyl alone everywhere #fentanyldangersarereal KIDS say NO to DRUGS.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:DO9TpnXkhw6
Robinson’s post comes at a time when Philadelphia, particularly the Kensington neighborhood, has become a national symbol of the opioid epidemic. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin, has spread rapidly across the United States in recent years.
In Philadelphia, it has replaced heroin as the dominant street drug, and its effects are visible in broad daylight. Entire blocks are often filled with people nodding off, hunched over, or moving unsteadily, symptoms linked to fentanyl’s powerful sedative effects.
The city has been grappling with record overdose deaths, many tied directly to fentanyl. According to public health reports, Philadelphia has one of the highest rates of drug overdoses among major U.S. cities. The crisis is so severe that the area has drawn international attention, with images and videos regularly circulating online, often described as resembling a real-life “zombie apocalypse.”
For Robinson, who has been open about his own health battles in recent years, using his social media platform to highlight the dangers of fentanyl was a way to spread awareness. His message to young people was clear: avoid drugs at all costs. By pairing the shocking visuals with a widely recognized song, the post grabbed attention but also carried a serious warning about the consequences of drug use.
While some might criticize the viral nature of such videos, they underscore a harsh reality: fentanyl is destroying communities and lives. Robinson’s call, “KIDS say NO to DRUGS”, reflects a desperate need for awareness and prevention as Philadelphia and other cities continue fighting against the opioid epidemic.
