2. Quick Facts
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Desomorphine was accessible as a substitute for
Morphine in 1932
2009-Desomorphine Abuse (DEA)
2011-100,000 Russians and 20,000 Ukraine's have
injected
Heroin- $150 per use
Krokodil- $6-$8 per use
3. How is it made?
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Iodine
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Hydrochloric Acid
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Organic Solvents
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Final Result- impure, orange-colored liquid
4. What are the effects?
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Skin irritation/skin decay
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Clumped veins
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Greenish scaly skin
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Limb amputation/death
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Addiction
5. Why do people use it?
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Significantly cheaper than heroin
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Codeine tablets are easily accessible in Russia
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Curiosity
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Addiction
7. Sources:
*AUTHOR N/A. "Krokodil: Is A Designer Drug That Will Eat Your Flesh In Russia And May Be Headed To The
States..."" "Krokodil" The Drug That Eat's It's Junkies! 1989-2013 Drug and Alcohol Testing Compliance Services, n.d.
Web. 08 Nov. 2013<
http://datcs.com/krokodil-is-a-designer-drug-that-will-eat-your-flesh-in-russia-and-may-be-headed-to-the-states >
*Alter, Maxim. "Russian 'flesh-eating' Drug 'krokodil' Something Police Are Finding on Ohio Streets." WEWS Newsnet5.
Newsnet5.com, 04 Nov. 2013. Web. 08 Nov. 2013. <
http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/state/Russian-flesh-eating-drug-krokodil-something-police-are-finding-on-Ohio-streets
>
*Christensen, Jen, and Ken Well. "Flesh-eating 'zombie' Drug 'kills You from the inside Out'"CNN. Cable News Network,
01 Jan. 1970. Web. 08 Nov. 2013. <http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/16/health/krokodil-zombie-drug>
*"DESOMORPHINE."DESOMORPHINE. DEA, Oct. 2013. Web. <
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/desomorphine.pdf>
**Schimelpfening, Nancy. "Krokodil: Devastating Drug Rots Flesh Off the Bone [Graphic Images]." Las Vegas Guardian
Express. Guardian Luv, 26 Sept. 2013. Web. 08 Nov. 2013. <http://guardianlv.com/2013/09/krokodil-devastating-drugrots-flesh-off-the-bone-graphic-images/>
Editor's Notes
Derived from the Russian word for “Crocodile”- Krokodil is an addictive inject-able opioid used as an alternative to Heroin, due to the price. The effects are long-term and even deadly, not to mention an eye sore.
*Krokodil is not new to the world, but recently new to the United States. Desomorphine was a substitute in the early 1930's and is 8-10 times more potent than Morphine.
*The DEA reported abuse increasing in 2009 among young Russian adults.
*2011-Thousands of Russians and Ukraine people were injecting for the purpose that price difference between Heroin and Krokodil are drastic.
*Iodine- made with products such as Mr.Muscle- a kitchen/bathroom cleaner
*Hydrochloric Acid-made from the red phosphorus from matches and Codeine tablets.
*Organic Solvents- made from gasoline and paint thinner.
Final Outcome-impure, orange liquid taking 30 minutes to an hour to prepare with a high lasting only an hour to an hour and a half
*Destruction to the skin due to failure to dissolve the drug and creating clumped veins.
*Damaged blood vessels, thrombosis, + damaged soft tissue around injection site
*Death/Limb amputation
*Also- The DEA reported that animal testing in the lab resulted in desomorphine generally being more potent than Morphine.
*Cost wise
*Russians have easy access to Codein tablets over the counter
*Also- Canada, Austrailia, Israel, France and Japan currently have Codein tablets over the counter also-so there is fear that people may become curious and experiment-just like the bath salt epidemic.
*Generally used by young people, current drug addicts, and the poor.
*Once using religiously, you can die within 2 years due to overwhelming infection.
*It's evident that nobody should be using this drug in the first place, but there are always going to be the experimenters. Based on the information gathered-Krokodil use will result in addiction, rotting of the skin-leading to amputation and even death. Though this may be a cheap way for Heroin users to “get high” the outcomes are disgusting, dangerous, and hazardous to one's health.
