Krokodil: The Terrible Effects Of This New And Dangerous Drug
He Krokodil either Desomorphine It is a homemade opiate-based drug that is up to ten times stronger than heroin and many times cheaper and more toxic.
The effects of the drug are both terrible and irreversible. The name Krokodil comes from the reaction of the drug in the person who takes it, whose skin will turn green and scaly, like that of a crocodile, among many other undesirable effects.
Krokodil is increasingly used by drug addicts in some parts of Europe as a heroin substitute, especially in the poorer regions of Russia and Siberia.
Addiction to this drug is not very long-lasting, since regular consumers do not usually live more than two years since they start taking this combination of pain medications and very toxic chemicals.
Combining toxic chemicals and pain medications
Desomorphine is made at home from a combination of codeine-based tablets, paint thinner, lighter fluid, gasoline, hydrochloric acid, red phosphorus (scraped from matchboxes), and iodine. The result of cooking painkillers and chemicals is a toxic and highly addictive drug.
Addicts are continually cooking the drug to ensure they will be able to get the next fix The caramel-colored liquid is injected into damaged and gangrenous areas giving users a “high” that will last a maximum of thirty minutes.
Effects
The toxic nature of these chemicals causes the skin to change color and become scaly. In users, the skin around injection sites becomes covered with ulcers and blood vessels rupture, causing tissue death. The skin is eaten away by the drugs’ chemicals, which rot the flesh to the bone. Teeth fall out, brain damage is common, and tetanus and blood poisoning are almost guaranteed
Reports suggest that the use of Krokodil is increasing in poor regions, like isolated parts of Russia, where heroin is hard to find. Up to 5% of drug addicts in Russia use Krokodil or other homemade drugs. Krokodil has higher rates of addiction and is harder to quit than heroin. Users will go through severe and painful withdrawal periods for up to a month after stopping use, but the long-term effects of the drug will last longer. Brain damage, hepatitis, rotten teeth or amputations are some of the side effects.
A drug on the rise in Europe
In Europe, despite the horrible reactions and side effects, Its consumption has been increasing since 2002 This increase is believed to be related to the success of drug eradication programs, which have reduced the flow of heroin into countries such as Russia.
Heroin treatment also lacks public funding in the country, and it should be noted that methadone therapy is illegal in the Soviet country. Likewise, seven states in the United States have also reported cases of Krokodil consumption.
A drug that is gaining ground in the old continent and about which the health authorities have already warned the population.
