The drug Krokodil, also known as Desomorphine, is a type of homemade drug made from opiates. Its effect after consumption can be up to approximately ten times more intense than that produced by heroin. This makes it one of the most toxic drugs in existence, and one of the most consumed among addicts due to its affordable price. Today, we will tell you what this dangerous narcotic consists of, its consequences, and its presence in society.
The effects that the drug Krokodil can cause can be terrible and, in some cases, irreversible due to its high degree of risk. The origin of this substance’s name is linked to these effects, and it comes from the reaction it causes in individuals who take it. Their skin acquires a greenish tone and a rough texture, as if it were covered in scales, exactly like that of a crocodile. And this condition is just one of many that it causes in those who consume it.
What is the Krokodil drug?
In recent years, the drug Krokodil has proliferated widely and very rapidly in many European countries. Especially in economically poorer regions like Russia and Siberia. As if it were the latest trend in the world of drug addiction, a large number of drug addicts have adopted it as a heroin substitute. This trend is growing and is very difficult to stop.
Although Krokodil drug addiction is not very long-lasting, it definitively ends the lives of its users. Due to its highly toxic composition, regular addicts to this narcotic, on average, do not live more than two years after consuming their first dose. The reason for this is that it is a combination of very harmful chemical substances and pain-treating drugs that create a highly detrimental reaction for the body.
One of the common habits of individuals addicted to the drug Krokodil is to continuously cook this narcotic to obtain a large number of doses as quickly as possible. This way, they can re-consume the substance whenever they wish without having to wait long. The main component is a caramel-colored liquid that must be injected into damaged areas of the body or areas containing gangrene. Consequently, they experience a rush of energy that lasts approximately thirty minutes, depending on the amount of the administered dose.
The Effects of the Krokodil Drug
As mentioned earlier, the first symptom of consuming this narcotic is the change in the skin characteristics of the user. Due to the toxic composition of the substance, the skin turns green and scales form all over the body. Specifically, ulcers appear in the area where the toxic substance was injected. Additionally, adjacent blood vessels rupture, causing tissue necrosis.
Gradually, the frequent consumption of the drug Krokodil causes the skin to rot down to the bone. Teeth die and eventually fall out, brain damage occurs regularly, and there is a high probability of blood poisoning and infections such as tetanus.
Characteristics of Krokodil
Several scientific studies that have analyzed the narcotic for a long time suggest that the consumption of the drug Krokodil has a higher addiction rate than any other conventional toxic substance. It is even higher than that of heroin, which is highly addictive and consumed in many European countries. Consequently, the intensity of its associated withdrawal syndrome is very high; it is an extremely painful process and lasts approximately one month when consumption is abruptly stopped.
The drug Krokodil also generates long-term consequences for individuals who choose to consume it. Its appearance occurs after the withdrawal syndrome, and its duration is longer than this detoxification process. Among its most common severe consequences are:
- Pronounced brain damage
- Hepatitis
- Rotten teeth
- Probability of requiring amputations
The Krokodil Drug in Society
According to addiction experts, the consumption of this drug has increased considerably in recent years, especially in poor regions. Specifically, in Europe, it has been increasing since 2002, in isolated parts of Russia, where heroin is a scarce and difficult-to-obtain substance. 5% of addicted individuals in this country regularly consume the drug Krokodil and/or other homemade toxic substances.
Some experts theorize that the explanation for the possible growth of this narcotic is related to the success of Russian state drug eradication programs. Due to the large number of heroin users in that country, public treatments do not have sufficient funds to treat all sick patients, who seek an alternative solution in Krokodil. Furthermore, its consumption has also been detected in seven states in the United States.
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