Real life horror stories...

[thistlechaser]

Millions of people are addicted to a drug that literally eats them alive.

There's a new drug, Krokodil, made from codeine, gasoline, paint thinner, hydrochloric acid, iodine, and red phosphorous (from matchstick heads).

...once injected it begins eating the user’s body from the inside out, causing blood vessels to burst and surrounding tissue to die. Essentially a corrosive acid with opiate effects

Krokodil gets its name because users develop scaly skin like a crocodile.

How about more disturbing Krokodil images for a Friday morning? "What was first thought to be a horrific STD infection turned out to be the effects of the 17-year old injecting krokodil directly into her genitals."

The article reports it's unlikely to become a common drug in America, but that makes it no less horrifying.

Comments

[bacchuslives.livejournal.com]

It's actually not new, it's been around for about 100 years. I wouldn't think it would be much of a problem anywhere given the ready availability of other illicit opioids... Most or all of the ingredients you listed for the synthesis are also used for the illicit manufacture of many other street drugs, which is why illegal drug labs have a nasty tendency of exploding.

In NY there is a huge effort to crack down on prescription narcotic crime. The only downside I see to that is that legitimately manufactured narcotics aren't inherently toxic like stuff made with solvents and other ingredients from the local hardware store...junkies will be forced to turn to less safe alternatives. Although I would imagine opioid seekers would be able to get heroin (diacetylmorphine) pretty easily.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's why they said it's not common in America -- we have better illegal drugs cheaper. (Go us?)

I know it opens a kettle of fish, but if it were up to me, drugs (and prostitution) would be legal. If someone has to have drugs, let's let them have something that won't melt their flesh. We can also make sure they have access to clean needles and such, too.

[bacchuslives.livejournal.com]

Go us indeed... If I were to guess, I'd say the primary reason that it isn't big here is because codeine isn't very easily available. In lots of countries codeine is available over the counter and it's the starting point for the synthesis of the "krokodil". If memory serves, when you make the stuff right it's a heck of a good drug and is manufactured commercially in some countries. Can't remember though, that was a lecture a long time ago.

[bacchuslives.livejournal.com]

And I don't completely disagree with the legalization argument. There are some baby steps, even here in over regulated NY state there is at least a program to get safe needles (even though it's still illegal to possess them...we love to contradict ourselves in drug regulations)