A dangerous, new drug has surfaced in Arizona by the name of krokodil (pronounced “crocodile”.) It is a cheaper stronger version of the popular drug heroin, but much more dangerous. The side effects begin with general euphoria, similar to heroin. But as the drug is ingested more, the gruesome side effects start to show their face. Rotting of the flesh, organ failure and gang green are the more serious effects of the drug. It is extremely addictive and dangerous and no one knows where it originated.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has been tracking it for years now and they have discovered it is very popular in Russia. The main appeal to this drug is its availability of ingredients. The drug can be made with paint thinner, codeine, iodine, hydrochloric acid, red phosphorus, gasoline, lighter fluid and other accessible ingredients. The DEA hasn’t confirmed whether the drug they have been tracking is the one that is causing all of the medical cases in Arizona, but the symptoms match up.
Interestingly enough, the drug was made commercially in Switzerland as a less addictive version of heroin. But it turned out that it was actually much more addictive and dangerous. The ailments caused by krokodil are irreversible and a user’s life expectancy is usually two to three years. There have only been a few reported medical cases in recent months but it is still frightening. A drug with higher addictive qualities then heroin is not something to be taken lightly. And if it’s as easy to make as experts are saying then there is more reason to pounce on this drug before it hits mainstream dealers.