Decoded Science

  • Home
  • Headlines
  • General Science
  • Applied Science
    • Calculations
    • Economics
    • Engineering
      • Aviation
      • Civil Engineering
    • Medical Science
      • Health
      • Neuroscience
      • Oncology
      • Veterinary Science
    • Political Science
      • Polling
    • Mathematics
    • Technology
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Computing
      • Electronics
      • Gadgets
    • Social Science
      • Cognitive Science
      • Psychology
      • Sociology
      • Anthropology
        • Linguistics
  • Physical Science
    • Archaeology
    • Astronomy
    • Chemistry
      • Materials Science
    • Geoscience
      • Climate Change
      • The Environment
      • Geology
      • Meteorology
      • Oceanography
    • Life Science
      • Biology
        • Botany
        • Zoology
          • Marine Biology
          • Entomology
          • Microbiology
        • Paleontology
        • Ecology
    • Nuclear Science
  • Theoretical Science
    • Physics
    • Math Theory
  • About Us
    • Contact Decoded Science
    • Ask the Expert
    • Meet Our Experts
    • Meet Our Sponsors:
    • Browse All Articles
    • Subscribe
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use Agreement
  • Support Decoded Science

Krokodil (Desomorphine) Dangers: Flesh-eating Drug Enters U.S.

September 29, 2013 by Janelle Vaesa, MPH 2 Comments

Share26
+12
Share2
Tweet
Pin
30 Shares
The drug "krokodil" (Russian for "crocodile) id named so because after habitual use, the user's skin gets sores, scars, and gets "scaly." Image by Wilfried Burns.

The drug “krokodil,” (Russian for “crocodile) is actually “desomorphine.”  Users call it krokodil because the user’s skin gets sores and scars, and becomes “scaly.” Image by Wilfried Burns.

A flesh-eating drug that was discovered in Russia a decade ago has now made it’s way to the United States, according to ABC news. The drug, ‘krokodil’ – Russian for “crocodile” – is a street drug that is a cheaper version of heroin and similar to morphine.

Why do users call desomorphine ‘Krokodil’? It causes sores, tissue damage, and a rough, scale-like appearance to the skin.

Flesh-Eating Drug: What’s In Krokodil?

Desomorphine is a derivative of morphine and is eight to ten times more potent than morphine.  Users can make Krokodil easily from ingredients found in home improvement stores and pharmacies – using codeine that is extracted from pills and mixed with other chemicals to create a liquid form that they can inject into their veins.

Some of the chemicals that users have mixed with codeine to get an injectable high include gasoline, paint thinners, hydrochloric acid, and products that contain phosphorous.




Krokodil Side Effects: Death

The side effects begin with the first injection, which produces a scar and death of the veins around the injection point. These chemicals are very acidic and cause the skin and fat to burn off, turn green, and die, which results in visible scarring of the skin. The chemicals used in krokodil also decrease the function of the immune system, resulting in the user not being able to fight off infections which can be prevalent among drug users.

Dr. Frank LoVecchio, co-medical director at Banner Poison, Drug and Information Center in Phoenix Arizona told ABC News that once a person starts taking this drug daily, within two years they can be dead because the body cannot fight off infections while taking krokodil.

Desomorphine User: Irina Pavlova

Irina Pavlova, a krokodil user, told her story to TIME Magazine in 2011. Pavlova used the drug every day for six years. Even though she is still alive, Pavlova has experienced severe side effects including a speech impediment, and deteriorating motor skills due to brain damage. According to TIME, her pale blue eyes have “something of a lobotomy patient’s vacant gaze.”

When asked about the friends that she used krokodil with, Pavlova said, “For some it led to pneumonia, some got blood poisoning, some had an artery burst in their heart, some got meningitis, others simply rot.”

"Krokodil," the new substance on the block is much cheaper than heroin (pictured above) as a street drug, and eight to ten times stronger than morphine. Image by richiec.

“Krokodil,” the new substance on the block, is much cheaper than heroin (pictured above) as a street drug, and eight to ten times stronger than morphine. Image by richiec.

Desomorphine in the U.S.

There are two cases in Arizona that may be tied to this flesh-eating drug. Two people have been hospitalized in Phoenix with symptoms of Krokodil and are the first known cases in the U.S. Other poison control centers from around the U.S. have said that they have seen people with similar symptoms as well, so the use of this toxic drug cocktail may be more prevalent than health officials know.

Treating the effects of Krokodil includes cleaning the skin and giving antibiotics. In severe cases, skin grafts, muscle grafts, or amputation maybe necessary to treat the infections.

Krokodil: Coming to America

Krokodil use began in Siberia and parts of Russia in 2002, but has spread throughout Russia in recent years. In 2010, officials estimated that about a million people were injecting this drug in Russia. Unfortunately, this drug has now entered into the United States.

Resources:

Mendez, Stephanie. Flesh-Eating Street Drug from Russia Hits the US. ABC News. (2013). Accessed September 29, 2013.

Fox News. First cases of flesh-eating drug Krokodil surface in US. (2013). Accessed September 29, 2013.

Shuster, Simon. The Curse of the Crocodile: Russia’s Deadly Designer Drug. (2011). TIME Magazine. Accessed September 29, 2013.

Nicosia, Domenico. Arizona cases may be tied to flesh-eating drug. (2013). USA Today. Accessed September 29, 2013.

Share26
+12
Share2
Tweet
Pin
30 Shares

Filed Under: Headlines, Health Tagged With: desomorphine, drug immigration, Krokodil, Russia, United States

Decoded Everything is a non-profit corporation, dependent on donations from readers like you. Donate now! Your support keeps the great information coming!

Donation Information

I would like to make a donation in the amount of:

$500$200$100$50$20$10$5Other
Other:

I would like this donation to automatically repeat each month

Tribute Gift

Check here to donate in honor or memory of someone
Check here if this is a memorial gift
Name of person to be honored:
Send acknowledgement via email
Send acknowledgement via postal mail
Email Name:
Email:
Name:
Address:
City:
State :
Province:
Country:
Postal Code:

Donor Information

First Name:
Last Name:
Email:
Please do not display my name publicly. I would like to remain anonymous
Add me to your mailing list

Comments

  1. trt says

    February 6, 2015 at 6:22 am

    too bad for these people

    Reply
  2. Hot Potato says

    September 29, 2013 at 8:00 am

    SO FREAKING STUPID

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Connect with:
Facebook

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About the Author

Janelle Vaesa

Janelle Vaesa received her Master of Science degree in Public Health, with a concentration in Health Behavior, from the University of Louisville in 2008, and her Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance, also from ... Read Full Profile

Follow Decoded Science

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
signupheredailydosedecsciv2


Science Everyone's Talking About

  • Genetically Modified Organisms: Pros and Cons of GMO Food Genetically Modified Organisms: Pros and Cons of GMO Food What are the benefits and risks of genetically modified... under Headlines, Health
  • Introducing the Factorial: the Exclamation Mark of Math Introducing the Factorial: the Exclamation Mark of Math What is a factorial, and how is the exclamation point u... under Math Theory
  • Himalayan Ice Loss, Extra-Terrestrial Water and the European Settlement of the Americas: Geoscience 1-7 February 2019 Himalayan Ice Loss, Extra-Terrestrial Water and the European Settlement of the Americas: Geoscience 1-7 February 2019 This week we go back in time, travel into outer space a... under Geoscience, Headlines, Weekly Features
  • Did the Temple of Solomon Define Pi in the Bible? Did the Temple of Solomon Define Pi in the Bible? King Solomon's temple featured a 'Molten Sea' that incl... under Calculations, Headlines
  • Martian Water, Vanishing Arctic Ice and Mediterranean Tsunami Risk: Geoscience 6-13 February 2019 Martian Water, Vanishing Arctic Ice and Mediterranean Tsunami Risk: Geoscience 6-13 February 2019 This week's articles include the case for liquid water... under Geoscience, Headlines, Weekly Features

Today's Most Popular Science Articles

  • Introducing Math Symbols for Union and Intersection Introducing Math Symbols for Union and Intersection
  • Norovirus Facts: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Stomach Flu Norovirus Facts: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Stomach Flu
  • Which Chemical Bond is Stronger: Ionic vs. Covalent Bonds Which Chemical Bond is Stronger: Ionic vs. Covalent Bonds
  • Genetically Modified Organisms: Pros and Cons of GMO Food Genetically Modified Organisms: Pros and Cons of GMO Food
  • Cross Multiply to Solve Equations with Fractions Cross Multiply to Solve Equations with Fractions
  • Introducing the Factorial: the Exclamation Mark of Math Introducing the Factorial: the Exclamation Mark of Math
  • Stomach Flu Cramps: Is There Anything You Can Do For Norovirus Symptoms? Stomach Flu Cramps: Is There Anything You Can Do For Norovirus Symptoms?

Copyright © 2019 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

MENU
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • General Science
  • Applied Science
    • Calculations
    • Economics
    • Engineering
      • Aviation
      • Civil Engineering
    • Medical Science
      • Health
      • Neuroscience
      • Oncology
      • Veterinary Science
    • Political Science
      • Polling
    • Mathematics
    • Technology
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Computing
      • Electronics
      • Gadgets
    • Social Science
      • Cognitive Science
      • Psychology
      • Sociology
      • Anthropology
        • Linguistics
  • Physical Science
    • Archaeology
    • Astronomy
    • Chemistry
      • Materials Science
    • Geoscience
      • Climate Change
      • The Environment
      • Geology
      • Meteorology
      • Oceanography
    • Life Science
      • Biology
        • Botany
        • Zoology
          • Marine Biology
          • Entomology
          • Microbiology
        • Paleontology
        • Ecology
    • Nuclear Science
  • Theoretical Science
    • Physics
    • Math Theory
  • About Us
    • Contact Decoded Science
    • Ask the Expert
    • Meet Our Experts
    • Meet Our Sponsors:
    • Browse All Articles
    • Subscribe
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use Agreement
  • Support Decoded Science