Designer Drug Krocodil - A Lethal Habit   by Ben Pate

in Health / Diseases and Conditions    (submitted 2012-02-09)

Today, there are countless drugs on the market. Each of these drugs can wreak havoc upon the user, with a variety of side effects. There are new drugs and new drug mixtures out everyday causing even worse symptoms than those before them. Some drugs can stop a heartbeat, while others cause flesh to rot off the bone. One of these drugs is Krocodil. A popular drug found in Russia, krocodil use has spread the country and has created the world's first drug use epidemic.

Krocodil

Desomorphine which is a form of morphine is what Krocodil is. It is around eight times more potent than morphine. The high does not last as long as the morphine high though. Krocodil gets its name from the effects it leaves on the skin. At the injection site the skin will turn a gangrenous green and takes on a scaly appearance, which resembles that of a crocodile. This is how Krocodil derives its name. The poison is created by mixing codeine with common household items, which is why this horrific drug is referred to as the poor man's drug as well.

Poor Man's Drug

Krocodil's high mimics that of heroin, at a fraction of the price. On the European market heroin goes for about fifty to eighty US dollars a dose. Krocodil, which is made from an over the counter headache medicine, codeine, can be purchased for about four US dollars, and the cost of household ingredients. Codeine is the main ingredient, however it is cooked with household items such as gasoline, paint thinner, hydrochloric acid, and iodine. Red phosphorous is also included in the concoction; this is obtained by scraping the striking pad on matchboxes. It takes roughly an hour to cook the drug, and the high only lasts about an hour to an hour and a half, so it is an all day affair to remain high. Due to the high it produces, the low cost, and accessibility of ingredients, Russia is now seeing the world's first drug epidemic.

Effects

It is reported that those who are addicted to Krocodil only live for about two years. The effects are more devastating than any other drug. The mixture of poisons causes flesh to rot right off the bone. Those addicted resemble the walking dead, they are modern day zombies. In addition to falling flesh, there are also long lasting effects on motor coordination and speech, which causes slow reaction times and speech impediments. Blood poisoning is also common in those who use Krocodil.

Russia

Krocodil is mostly used in Russia, spreading rampant throughout the country, creating the world's first drug epidemic. Northern Russia features eight month winters and high rates of unemployment. This may have lead to the spread of drug use. Boredom and depression are often leading causes of drug use, especially among young people. Worse, Russians don't have easy access to drug rehabilitation programs. There are only about 500 centers and they are mostly managed by private religious organizations. This can make recovery impossible for many.

About the Author

Any drug is dangerous when consumed; russian drug krocodil, however, is a step above the rest. Its effects are so drastic and lethal that an addiction to it is a death sentence. Any search of the drug Krocodil will pull up countless sites boasting recipes for Krocodil. This shows its prevalence within the drug world. Easy accessibility and cheap costs have made Krocodil the leading drug in Russia and the deadliest drug on the market. The chances of surviving an actual crocodile attack are better than surviving an addiction to Krocodil, for this reason drug rehab must be sought immediately.