Jordan Gertino

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Jordan Gertino
Paul Roberts
Life Society and Drugs
8-5-14
Krokodil The Flesh Eating Drug
When Oxycontin becomes too expensive for an abuser a majority will switch to
heroin because it is cheaper. When heroin even has become too expensive for the
Russian heroin addict they have been using Krokodil as an even more dangerous
alternative. It is being called the zombie drug because of the appearance of the
person abusing this drugs having greenish blue flesh where the drugs has been
injected and often deteriorating the flesh. I will be researching what the drug is, how
it came about and who its affecting most. My goal is to grasp a better understanding
of the issue at large in Russia and increase my knowledge on why someone might
switch to this drug as an alternative.
Krokodils medical name is Desomorphine, which has no medical use in the
US and is used in Switzerland but is named Permonid as the New York State Office of
Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NYOASAS, 2012) explained. This drug is popular because it
can be synthesized at home with paint thinner, codeine (NO prescription needed in
Russia), lighter fluid, iodine and a few other accessible chemicals (NYOASAS, 2012).
This is a cheaper alternative to heroin with a short acting, but intense high 10 times
stronger than that of morphine (NYOASAS, 2012). The Drug Enforcement
Administration published an article in the Drug and Chemical evaluation section
stating that the body does not build tolerance as easily as it does with morphine.
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Tolerance is less rapid and the appearance of withdrawal is not as intense as they
are with morphine, although another source describes it being much worse (DEA,
2013). Over all the DEA has put that the drug tested to be 3 times more toxic and
more of a depressant than morphine making it extremely dangerous to use. The
drug is fairly new making its first appearance in Russia in 2002 but was synthesized
in the year 1932(Narconon International 2010-14). Russia has extensive heroin
abuse largely because of the relatively close distance they are to Afghanistan
(NYOASAS 2013).
Krokodil is about a tenth of the price that heroin is, making the conversion
from heroin to Krokodil more appealing and dangerous. Reports of its abuse began
to appear in 2013, when previously it was a problem in only Russia, Germany, and
other neighboring countries. The drug has a toxic effect that has the appearance of a
rotting corps, which is why some call it the zombie drug. Because of the impurities
in the drug and the toxic chemicals used in synthesizing it the damage is relentless
literally eating away at the skin often leading to Phlebitis or Gangrene. Phlebitis is a
condition when the veins become inflamed and irritated from injecting and using
needles (Emedicine health, 2014). This can have a minor or major effect depending
on the extent of damage done to the veins. Phlebitis can lead to (WebMd)Gangrene,
which is the appearance of the bluish green flesh being deteriorated. Gangrene is a
very serious condition which medical attention should be immediate. This is cause
from a lack of blood flow or cut off blood flow to hands toes and limbs (WebMD).
Sever infection and Gangrene is the cause of death for many Krokodile abusers. The
drug is said to be one of the two most addictive drugs along side with
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Methamphetamine as Narconon put it. Other risk occurs with the use of this drug as
it does with other drugs like heroin and cocaine when injected. HIV, which can lead
to Aids, Hepatitis C and other diseases, can be spread through infected needles
usually by sharing needles with someone infected. When asked in a group study of
abuser of the drug Krokodil why they continue to use with knowledge of the harms
one simply said his only worries are withdrawal and the police. Even when asked if
he was worried about contracting diseases such as HIV he was not worried about it.
He stated that it was down the road and medical attention was not available often
times without money (IJDP.org). A female participant shared her story of going to
the hospital to seek medical attention for an infection and was rejected due to lack
of money. This was common for individuals without money, the doctors would say
things like you should have known or this is your fault(IJDP.org). Having proper
medical attention is another entire problem of itself, 8 females reported being
refused medical treatment when seeking medical attention.
I have a greater understanding of the drug and its side effects, as well as the
places where it is most common. What is so frightening about the drug is the grip it
seems to have on its victims. Krokodil is probably the perfect name for the drug as it
is a monster probably even bigger than a Crocodile. Its baffling to think from an
outside point of view the transition from heroin to Krokodil but understandable as
well. The grip of addiction is so powerful that the high is the most important part of
the person life. When considering the drug being ten times cheaper, more available,
more potent than morphine, and quickly in effect its no wonder the drug has lashed
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with such power. I have compassion and confusion still for the people effected by
the drug. My hope is that something is done sooner than later to control the issue.





















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Works Cited (Services)
Booth, Robert E. "Krokodil and other home-produced drugs for injection: A
perspective from Ukraine." The international Journal of Drug Policy (2013).
Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Division Control. Desomorphine. 10
2010. <http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/desomorphine.pdf>.
health, Emedicine. Phlebitis. 2014. WebMd.
<http://www.emedicinehealth.com/phlebitis/article_em.htm>.
International, Narconon. http://www.narconon.org/. 2010-14.
<http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/krokodil.html>.
Services, New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. FYI Krokodil. 02
2012. <http://www.oasas.ny.gov/admed/fyi/krokodil.cfm>.
WebMd. Skin Problems and Treatment Health Center. 2014.
<http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/gangrene-causes-
symptoms-treatments>.