Krokodil--The Flesh Eating Drug

Overview

Over a decade ago in the Russian doctors began noticing high incidences of drug users with similar dark colored lesions on their bodies. These lesions would turn dark and scaly--similar to that of crocodile skin. Coincidentally the drug responsible for the harmful side effects is called Krokodil.

Krokodil, or desomorphine, was created in 1932 in an effort to synthesize a less addictive substitute for morphine. This drug is ten times more potent and toxic than heroin and can be easily prepared with the use of codeine and other toxic household products including: gasoline, paint thinner, hydrochloric acid and iodine.

The rotting arm of a krocokdil user, courtesy of informationng.com



Krokodil highly addictive and its side effects are so severe that the average user only lives for a few years.

Side Effects

According to the New York's Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, there are estimated to be one million Krokodil addicts in Russia, with nearly 30,000 deaths each year. The high mortality rates is attributed to the fact that the average user lives for about two years as the chemicals are extremely toxic for the body. The chemicals used to create Krokodil eat the skin tissue after the blood vessels burst which cause the following side effects:

• Destruction of flesh and internal organs
• Inflammation veins in the legs or arms
• Death of body tissues
• Skin turning greenish and scaly

Once the drug has taken its toll on the body, many of its users will have to undergo surgery to have the affected limbs amputated.