Desomorphine or street name “ Krokodil” is a opiate that was invented in the united states in 1932. It is a derivative of morphine but much more potent. It is a schedule 1 substance. It was used in Switzerland under the brand name Permonid. It was found that it worked much quicker and had a shorter duration than morphine with less nausea and respiratory depression . In preclinical trials, desomorphine indicated low addiction possibilities, but in human trials, it showed a probability of rapid onset of addiction. In Switzerland, it was approved for the treatment of pain and marketed as Permonid. However, there were no reports of hazardous effects.
Withdrawal symptoms were studied in 6 cases and the drug being used, whether desomorphine or morphine, was withheld for 6-12 hours at about 10-day intervals throughout the course of the study. During these brief withdrawals observations for specific abstinence symptoms were made. Such signs of abstinence began to appear 10 days after the beginning of desomorphine administration. After the third week definite evidence of abstinence was seen if desomorphine was withheld for only 4 hours. No signs of addiction were observed during the short periods of withdrawal in the three patients receiving morphine. It must be remembered, however, that the dose of desomorphine had been increased more rapidly than that of morphine, and also that signs of abstinence from morphine are not ordinarily very apparent within the first 12 hours of withdrawal because of the longer duration of action of this drug.
Russia has more heroin users than any other nation in the world, around two million. For most of these people their life involves crime, time in prison, the likelihood of contracting hepatitis C and HIV, as well as an early death. Efforts to stop the flow of heroin into Russia have found some success and the price of heroin on the streets of Russia have increased. For people who are unable to afford heroin, Krokodil has become a drug of choice instead
Krokodil is popular in Russia due to it being cheaper and easier to get then heroin. It is also popular because it is very easy to make. The user can go into any pharmacy and buy the ingredients to make the drug. There are no laws against purchasing the items. It is produced by utilizing codeine, iodine, gasoline, paint thinner, hydrochloric acid, lighter fluid and red phosphorus. When made this way it is very toxic and impure. Pure desomorphine is less toxic than morphine, but the chemicals, solvents and catalysts used in the making of this drug is what causes the rotting of the flesh
Krokodil is named for the Russian word for crocodile and its tendency to turn users' skin rough and scaly. The inject-able opioid can cause brain damage and severe tissue damage, sometimes leading to gangrene, amputations and even death. It has also been linked to pneumonia, blood poisoning, meningitis, liver and kidney problems, rotting gums and bone infections. The average user dies with in two to three years. Use in Russia is estimated as high as 1 million and has spread to other European countries like Germany
Heroin shortage and over the counter availability of codeine are the main reasons for the increased prevalence of this addiction in Russia. This reason is supported by the sales reports, which indicated the growth of codeine-based formulations in the last five years in that country. However, in 2012, Russia included all the codeine containing formulations in the prescription drugs category.
In 2002 the first reported case of Krokodil abuse was in Siberia. Only in the past few years it has spread throughout the country. Since 2009, the amount of krokodil seized in russia has increased 23-fold according to the head of the federal drug control service. In the first three months of 2011 alone they have confiscated 65 million doses. They are saying that krokodil accounts for about half of all addictions related to deaths in their regions. In some areas it has practically pushed out the traditional opiates.
Has the krokodil reached the U.S.? Toxicologists around the country are starting to worry about a new drug that has reportedly sent people to the hospital in Arizona and Illinois
In September, reports emerged that two cases of krokodil users had been found in Phoenix, Arizona, at a drug treatment center. Since then, reports of the drug emerging in several other states have surfaced, with suspected cases found in Illinois, Ohio and Missouri. "We've had two cases this past week that have occurred in Arizona," Dr. Frank LoVecchio, co-medical director at Banner's Poison Control Center, "As far as I know, these are the first cases in the United States that are reported. So we're extremely frightened," he added..
In October two sisters were reported to being treated at a medical center in Chicago due to krokodil. They claim to have been using the drug for over a year but thought it was just “ normal heroin” . It almost starts out like I got burned with a cigarette. It's like purple, and then it goes, like, into a blister. After there skin conditions started to worsen they went to the hospital. The sores on her elbows were so bad they almost had to cut off part of the bone. “I have to go see the infectious disease doctor in two weeks, and we're going to just - in two weeks, we're going to decide how far it's progressed. And they're going to wind up doing skin grafting, in the end. “
In 2002 the first reported case of Krokodil abuse was in Siberia. Only in the past few years it has spread throughout the country. Since 2009, the amount of krokodil seized in russia has increased 23-fold according to the head of the federal drug control service. In the first three months of 2011 alone they have confiscated 65 million doses. They are saying that krokodil accounts for about half of all addictions related to deaths in their regions. In some areas it has practically pushed out the traditional opiates.
Has the krokodil reached the U.S.? Toxicologists around the country are starting to worry about a new drug that has reportedly sent people to the hospital in Arizona and Illinois
In September, reports emerged that two cases of krokodil users had been found in Phoenix, Arizona, at a drug treatment center. Since then, reports of the drug emerging in several other states have surfaced, with suspected cases found in Illinois, Ohio and Missouri. "We've had two cases this past week that have occurred in Arizona," Dr. Frank LoVecchio, co-medical director at Banner's Poison Control Center, "As far as I know, these are the first cases in the United States that are reported. So we're extremely frightened," he added..
In October two sisters were reported to being treated at a medical center in Chicago due to krokodil. They claim to have been using the drug for over a year but thought it was just “ normal heroin” . It almost starts out like I got burned with a cigarette. It's like purple, and then it goes, like, into a blister. After there skin conditions started to worsen they went to the hospital. The sores on her elbows were so bad they almost had to cut off part of the bone. “I have to go see the infectious disease doctor in two weeks, and we're going to just - in two weeks, we're going to decide how far it's progressed. And they're going to wind up doing skin grafting, in the end. “
Rumors of the drug spreading into Canada have recently been reported. In Canada, Health Canada is aware of reports of desomorphine, the department said in an email.
"To date, Health Canada's drug analysis service has not received any samples that have been identified as containing desomorphine."
Late last week, the Canadian Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use, which is co-ordinated by the Canadian Center on Substance Abuse, issued a bulletin noting that there had been "no confirmed reports" of desomorphine in Canada in the past two months.
"It is possible that some unconfirmed reports were made after observing severe wounds at injection sites among intravenous (IV) drug users,"
It is not 100 percent that the drug is not in the U.S or Canada but there are no confirmed reports of it exsiting here. There are no indications that the drug will come here but it is being very carefully monitored.
One of problems for the krokodil hunters is that the harm the drug can do to the body can resemble other types of infections or health conditions. The symptoms associated with krokodil can be mistaken with the complications that long-term users of injectable drugs like heroin can develop through infections from reusing needles and exposing themselves to all sorts of bacteria, People are alarmed about the krokodil but they are many things that can cause abscess when using intravenous drugs.
The deadly flesh-eating drug krokodil is not spreading throughout the US, Canada and the UK, despite reports suggesting otherwise. Experts have said it is unlikely the drug has even really left Russia, as it is only used by people in remote parts of the country where heroin has become too expensive or unavailable - it is turned to as a last resort among addicts.
“DEA is aware of and tracking the nationwide reports of alleged abuse of the controlled substance desomorphine that a is found in the drug krokodil, nvented and used in rural Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.
DEA is investigating the matter by acquiring samples alleged to contain desomorphine, interviewing drug abusers, and
monitoring intelligence reports.To date, none of our forensic laboratories has analyzed an exhibit found to contain desomorphine.
A sample sent to our Chicago forensic laboratory that was suspected to be krokodil was actually heroin.
In 2011 a documentary was made by some students called “ Krokodil tears “ They traveled deep into Russia to find out about this new drug that had surfaced. They went into the empty abandoned buildings and found a few users who would allowthem to film. The one young man speaks of owing people money and not expecting to live to see the next week and that is why he doesn’t care if he is on film. They say let the english know what is really going on. They are sitting in filth and cooking the krokodil. They are covered in sores and are extremely mal nurished and pale .They spend half of the time trying to get krokodil by collecting scrap metals and selling it . The other half cooking the drug. The high doesn’t last very long so they are constantly making it. They speak very slowly the drugs are impacting there motor skills. With no cares of death they inject the drugs with dirty syringes. Empty bottles of eye drops are scattered around them. The student asks “what are these?” They reply if you mix the drops with the drugs it will intensify the high. Another interview they do is with a mother of two brother addicts. She says she watches them slowly kill them selves. They both are disabled from the drug. The brothers speech has been impaired and they are very slow in response. The chemicals are killing them. She cries and says all she can do is pray and how hopeless she feels. This is the reality of this drug she says.
What a sad life style these young addicts have to live. They speak about not being able to stop even though they know it will kill them. The poverty level is growing. They squat in run down abandoned buildings shooting up all day long. They are homeless with nothing to live for. Feeling trapped everyday in there own hell. Infections and diseases spread out of control. Needles line the floors of these buildings. Young women are prostituting there bodies to support there habits. Running out of options of ways to get money forcing them to commit crime. Everyone’s friends are dying. There are very little options for help. The country does not have money to fund for treatment. The chances of getting clean or sober are slim to none. The few rehabs they have are privately funded but still have very little money and very little room to take in very many people at a time. Some addicts try to find god in these desperate times trying to escape from there own misery. Wanting to escape the world and there emotional pain. They lose themselves in the drugs as the only means of a way to escape from there brutal reality of there lives.
When these addicts try to get sober they rarely make it past the withdrawals because they are so incredibly painful. Vomiting violently. Shivers and chills like the flu. Diarrhea. and the feeling of your guts being ripped out of your body. Every bone,muscle and limb hurt ache with horrible pain. Your legs want to kick and move and are very restless. Sweating yet so incredibly cold at the same time. Crying and screaming. Muscle spasms and incredible pain in the lower back. Not comfortable in any position no matter what you do. Not being able to sleep for several days in a row. Starting to loose your sanity from the pain and lack of sleep they usually revert back to the drug. Hating themselves for being weak but they have lost all control.
Addiction is very serious many people are suffering from the disease. This is a very serious epidemic and it is only the beginning. Loved ones will watch feeling helpless. Praying for the best yet in there hearts expecting the worst. New drugs will come and go only growing stronger. Dangerous chemicals being mixed together for that right high. With no cares of life and death the addict will die without help. They must escape the hell they have created if they choose to live. If they choose to die its only a matter of time. They can only save themselves from the self destruction.
When these addicts try to get sober they rarely make it past the withdrawals because they are so incredibly painful. Vomiting violently. Shivers and chills like the flu. Diarrhea. and the feeling of your guts being ripped out of your body. Every bone,muscle and limb hurt ache with horrible pain. Your legs want to kick and move and are very restless. Sweating yet so incredibly cold at the same time. Crying and screaming. Muscle spasms and incredible pain in the lower back. Not comfortable in any position no matter what you do. Not being able to sleep for several days in a row. Starting to loose your sanity from the pain and lack of sleep they usually revert back to the drug. Hating themselves for being weak but they have lost all control.
Addiction is very serious many people are suffering from the disease. This is a very serious epidemic and it is only the beginning. Loved ones will watch feeling helpless. Praying for the best yet in there hearts expecting the worst. New drugs will come and go only growing stronger. Dangerous chemicals being mixed together for that right high. With no cares of life and death the addict will die without help. They must escape the hell they have created if they choose to live. If they choose to die its only a matter of time. They can only save themselves from the self destruction.