The first case of krokodil use in the US has just appeared in Arizona. Another product of our idealistic drug laws, krokodil is made from codeine in a matter similar to illicit methamphetamine production. However even the most rudimentary meth cooks will recrystallize the final product, separating out the toxic solvents and catalysts used in the reaction. Krokodil users inject the final solution straight. While pure desomorphine is probably no more toxic than morphine, the solvents and chemicals used in the reaction cause sores at the site of injection, necrosis of flesh and turns the skin scaly (hence the name "crocodile")...
A powerful heroin-like drug that rots flesh and bone has made its first reported appearance in the United States, an Arizona health official says.
Known on the street as "krokodil," the caustic homemade opiate is made from over-the-counter codeine-based headache pills mixed with iodine, gasoline, paint thinner or alcohol. When it's injected, the concoction destroys a user's tissue, turning the skin scaly and green like a crocodile. Festering sores, abscesses and blood poisoning are common.
Frank LoVecchio, the co-medical director at the Banner Good Samaritan Poison & Drug Information Center, told KPHO-TV that Arizona health officials have seen two cases during the past week.
"As far as I know, these are the first cases in the United States that are reported," he said. "So we're extremely frightened."
Flesh-rotting 'krokodil' drug emerges in USA
Just more collateral damage caused by the war on drugs.
"Just more collateral damage caused by the war on drugs.", indeed, to equate, without the least attempt at clarification, this home brewed poison with pharmaceutical Desomorphine is completely irresponsible journalism,
ReplyDeleteI guess I've become so accustomed to the childish level of maturity coming from the media where drugs are concerned that I would be genuinely surprised to read a krokodil article that makes that distinction.
DeleteIf users could get high on desomorphine with no toxicity issues it wouldn't be much of a story. It also wouldn't fit the stereotype of the desperate addict willing to submit themselves to the most outrageous degradations in pursuit of their drug of choice.