Zombie Apocalypse Drug Reaches US: This Is Not a Joke (Graphic Image at website)

[HarveyDarkey]

—By Dana Liebelson Thu Sep. 26

Krokodil, a highly addictive designer drug that aggressively eats through flesh, has reportedly arrived in the United States. A Phoenix CBS affiliate revealed this week that two cases involving krokodil had been phoned into a local poison control center and quoted one of the center's medical directors, Dr. Frank LoVecchio, saying he and his colleagues were "extremely frightened." While the US Drug Enforcement Administration has not yet received a sample of the drug for analysis, and thus cannot confirm it was krokodil, Barbara Carreno of the DEA told Mother Jones that the agency often learns about new synthetic drugs (including the infamous bath salts) through local poison-control centers. "We've been scrambling to see what we know about the cases in Arizona," she added. "This concerns us very much."

Krokodil, technically known as Desomorphine, has a similar effect to heroin, but is significantly cheaper and easier to make. In the last few years, it's been wreaking severe havoc on the bodies and lives of Russian youth. The drug earned its nickname—the Russian word for crocodile—because of the ghastly side effects it has on the human body. Wherever the drug is injected, the skin turns green and scaly, showing symptoms of gangrene. In severe cases, the skin rots away completely revealing the bone beneath. Other permanent effects of the drug include speech impediments and erratic movement. Rotting flesh, jerky movements, and speech troubles have prompted media outlets to tag krokodil the "zombie drug." According to Time, the average user of krokodil only lives two or three years, and "the few who manage to quit usually come away disfigured." Quitting is its own nasty business. Heroin withdrawal symptoms last about a week; symptoms for krokodil withdrawal can last over a month.

Krokodil use has skyrocketed in poor rural communities in Russia in the last few years, despite the troubling side effects. The Federal Drug Control Service in Russia told Time that in the first three months of 2011, it confiscated 65 million doses of the drug. Desomorphine didn't originate in Russia; the potent painkiller was patented in the United States in 1934. It only became a recreational drug about 10 years ago, when it surfaced in Siberia. The Independent reported in 2011 that up to 5 percent of Russian drug users have used krokodil—as many as 100,000 people. Zhenya, a former user in Russia, told the Independent that when she used to inject krokodil, she was "dreaming of heroin, of something that feels clean and not like poison. But you can't afford it, so you keep doing the krokodil. Until you die."

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/09/zombie-apocalypse-drug-reaches-us-not-joke

[boomer55]

1. drugs are bad, mmmkay. n/t

[Skidmore]

2. Yes, not all drugs are good.

There are some drugs which should be kept illegal. This one and meth come to mind.

[Shivering Jemmy]

30. Many are indeed

What are the virtues of crank?

[Auggie]

3. I wish they would refer to it as something other than "Zombie Apocalypse Drug ..."

like, "Kill You Slowly And Painfully Drug.

[progressoid]

11. Yeah, that name will actually appeal to some people.

Those photos are horrific.

[derby378]

4. Is it out of line to consider "shoot on sight" orders for these dealers?

Granted, the "War On Drugs" can get ridiculous at times, but for the use of krokodil, which is what happens when desomorphine gets pimp-slapped by industrial solvents, there is no justification for its existence, let alone use.

[Cooley Hurd]

9. Yes, because such orders circumvent the rule of law...

[derby378]

14. Then again, so does krokodil...

...which also has this very nasty tendency of circumventing life, and in a rather grotesque and excruciating manner.

Other than that, I understand where you're coming from.

[bunnies]

5. Jesus Christ! Those pics!

OMG! Why the hell would anyone DO that?

[HarveyDarkey]

6. I didn't go beyond the one on the home page

It was gross enough

[bunnies]

8. The others are MUCH worse.

Bones showing through the skin and more. I dont think Ive ever been as disturbed by images in all my life. Theyre absolutely horrific. If theres one drug that should earn its manufacturers life in prison automatically, this should be the one. That pic on MJ is nothing in comparison. Im in total shock that people take this voluntarily. Absolute and total shock.

[Auggie]

12. I just looked at them. Nightmare images.

[dixiegrrrrl]

38. That is where the infamous "denial" of addiction comes in..

you can show those pictures every minute of every day to someone using drugs, and they still think it won't happen to them,
because of another factor of addiction...the illusion of control.

[bunnies]

42. Youre exactly right. nt

[loli phabay]

7. same reason anyone uses heroin or meth etc.

I think there will even be some people who will defend this crap.

[bunnies]

10. Did you look at those pics?

They make meth heads look like beauty queens. Flesh rotten to the BONE FFS!

[loli phabay]

13. yup i saw them, also saw what happens to meth heads and heroin junkies

None of it is nice, but people still do it.

[bunnies]

15. Slow death by drugs.

Crazy, that. If ya wanna die THAT bad... why suffer?

[loli phabay]

22. if you ever see the abcesses that meth and herion users get at needle site

Its pretty bad as well.

[jmowreader]

24. Not as bad as this!

There is a picture online of a krokodil victim. You can see the bones in her forearm because the muscles that normally cover them are gone.

[loli phabay]

29. it can be, ive seen heroin users with infections that deep before

This stuff just seems to rot the flesh rather than cause infection though. They are all bad though and i would not want either.

[idwiyo]

35. What you saw most likely was a result of the shit added to heroin by dealers.

BTW, in UK one can get prescription for heroin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin

Under the chemical names diamorphine and diacetylmorphine, heroin is a legally prescribed controlled drug in the United Kingdom, and is supplied in tablet or injectable form for the same indications as morphine is, often being preferred over morphine due to its lower side-effect profile.[citation needed] It is also available for prescription to long-term users as a form of opioid replacement therapy in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark, alongside psycho-social care—in the same manner that methadone or buprenorphine are used in the United States or Canada[10][11]—and a similar programme is being campaigned for by liberal political parties in Norway.

[loli phabay]

44. problem is the addicts sell the script and then buy street powder

Also a lot of the addicts want more than they can get on scripts. Its not as simple for a lot as giving methadone etc.

[idwiyo]

46. It's only a problem because drugs are not legal. Make them legal, sell them cheaper than

on the street, provide medical care when needed, including free prescriptions, and that problem will go away.

[loli phabay]

47. mayby, mayby not, the heroin addicts i know will just stay ripped twenty four seven

There is no easy answer in this one.

[idwiyo]

48. I would be perfectly happy if they stay high using legal drugs & knowing medical care is available

if they want it, without need to commit crimes to support their habit or get in prison simply for using drugs.

[idwiyo]

19. FFS, that drug is a good example why "war on drugs" is a failure.

Last edited Thu Sep 26, 2013, 08:54 PM - Edit history (1)

Legalise drugs like marijuana, heroin, cocaine, etc. Allow private citizens to grow some for own consumption. Make sure some are grown by licensed farmers, sold below the black market price through government tested and run distribution centres. Make sure addicts get proper counselling AND drug prescription if it's needed.

[GreenStormCloud]

28. I agree. BTW - I think you meant "counselling", not "cancelling". N/T

[idwiyo]

31. Ouch, you are right! I'll edit my post.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

34. Heroin, really?

Your last sentence is redundant when you throw heroin in there.

And the bottom line is there will always be drugs that the government could never properly regulate or legalize in good conscience, like this one, that some scum bag will try to push as a better high.

[idwiyo]

37. Why is it redundant exactly?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin

Under the chemical names diamorphine and diacetylmorphine, heroin is a legally prescribed controlled drug in the United Kingdom, and is supplied in tablet or injectable form for the same indications as morphine is, often being preferred over morphine due to its lower side-effect profile.[citation needed] It is also available for prescription to long-term users as a form of opioid replacement therapy in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark, alongside psycho-social care—in the same manner that methadone or buprenorphine are used in the United States or Canada[10][11]—and a similar programme is being campaigned for by liberal political parties in Norway.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

40. Heroin is almost instantly addictive

I'd go out of my way to make sure no one ever takes it tries it unless you want an addict to deal with.

[idwiyo]

43. I am glad NHS disagree with you about the use of heroin (& cocaine) for pain relief & treatment of

addiction.


Link below is to British National Formulary (registration is free)

http://www.medicinescomplete.com/mc/bnf/current/PHP87-prescribing-of-diamorphine-heroin-dipipanone-and-cocaine-for-addicts.htm

Prescribing of diamorphine (heroin), dipipanone, and cocaine for addicts

The Misuse of Drugs (Supply to Addicts) Regulations 1997 require that only medical practitioners who hold a special licence issued by the Home Secretary may prescribe, administer, or supply diamorphine, dipipanone (Diconal®), or cocaine in the treatment of drug addiction; other practitioners must refer any addict who requires these drugs to a treatment centre. Whenever possible the addict will be introduced by a member of staff from the treatment centre to a pharmacist whose agreement has been obtained and whose pharmacy is conveniently sited for the patient. Prescriptions for weekly supplies will be sent to the pharmacy by post and will be dispensed on a daily basis as indicated by the doctor. If any alterations of the arrangements are requested by the addict, the portion of the prescription affected must be represcribed and not merely altered.

General practitioners and other doctors do not require a special licence for prescribing diamorphine, dipipanone, and cocaine for patients (including addicts) for relieving pain from organic disease or injury.

For guidance on prescription writing, see Controlled Drugs and Drug Dependence.

[D23MIURG23]

50. Part of what makes Krokodil so bad is the way it is produced and used.

In Russia people were buying over the counter pain pills and cooking the desomorphine themselves from the pills, using reagents like phosphorus from match heads and iodine. They would then shooting the stuff up in an impure form. So the horrible tissue damage you are seeing isn't an effect of desomorphine itself. Its an effect of shooting up a soup of caustic and/or poisonous compounds along with the opiate.

Desomorphine itself is horribly addictive, but a properly produced form of it would still be better for people than shooting match heads and betadine into their veins, so I don't think your point makes much sense. Also, I think if heroin were cheap and accessible legally and cleanly, no one would use krokodil. It gained popularity in Russia because heroin junkies stopped being able to afford their fix.

[Go Vols]

41. Yep,there are more too.

Methamphetamine is schedule II in the US and is sold under the brand name Desoxyn.

Desomorphine(the drug in the OP) is sold in Switzerland under the brand name Permonid.

Its when people try to make the shit at home with not so good ingredients that bad things happen.

[idwiyo]

45. My neighbour (not in UK) died from cancer and he died in horrific pain.

The fucking law in that country had severe restrictions on pain meds, even in case of terminal illness. Fucking arseholes "didn't want patients to get addicted", I kid you not. Terminally ill patients. Patients in severe chronic pain.

When it comes to drug use for recreational purpose, it would be much better and much safer if drugs are legal. There always will be addicts and IMNSHO, I prefer them to get their drugs from government controlled store or even on free prescription, if needed.

Never mind what legalisation will do to criminal underworld.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

16. Because bath salts that make you eat other people wasn't bad enough. n/t

[MindPilot]

17. the need to get high can be strong -- real strong.

But this has gone from wanting to get high to wanting to die...by a lot.

I am firmly convinced that had the US not waged the WoD, none of this insane shit would even have been thought of.

[LiberalLoner]

18. Great simple PSA warning about krokodil

[Heather MC]

20. I try to be sympathetic to drug users

But if you are dumb to do a drug that does this to your body. You deserve it. This is as bad as the drug the makes you eat people. Imagine what would happen if you took both at the same time. You might end up eating your own rotting flesh ewwwwwwww

[porkified]

21. bad drugs

Damn! Where is Ron and Nancy when you need them?

[msanthrope]

23. Oh, I really wish I hadn't seen those pics....nt

[Fantastic Anarchist]

25. Holy mother of fuck.

Why would anyone want to do this to themselves?

[RedCappedBandit]

26. We need harm reduction and treatment.

The war on drugs just leads to shit like this.

This has been around for quite a while.

[GreenStormCloud]

27. I think this drug will be self-limiting.

I would think that once the drug culture learns what it does that even druggies will avoid it. This stuff is the most extreme I have ever heard of.

[Turbineguy]

32. Well, there you go.

Looks like we will not need the republican party anymore, having found something slightly worse.

[jmowreader]

33. I saw the recipe

It's like meth, but you start with cough syrup instead of sudafed...and then you add gasoline and hydrochloric acid. Just the way you make it's enough to end my desire to try it...

[ZombieHorde]

36. Aw, I thought this was going to be way cooler.

I have been following articles on Krokodil for a while, just out of morbid curiosity.

[rocktivity]

39. If this had appeared in any publication BUT Mother Jones

I would have assumed that someone had stolen it from Wes Craven's garbage cans.


rocktivity

[madrchsod]

49. synthetic marijuana is another interesting drug

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_cannabis

i know people who smoke this shit and drink alcohol. they are pretty much brain dead until by some miracle they wake up.

then they start all over again.

[hedgehog]

51. This thread raises some questions -

If people are going to get hold of drugs no matter what -

Wouldn't it be better to make safe drugs easier to get hold of?

If people are going to shove poisons into their bodies no matter what -

Why spend time and energy making any drug illegal?

Mind you - I don't even drink alcohol, but I'm tired of spending money going after drug users. It hasn't stopped the use of drugs, and it doesn't help addicts but it does finance a prison industry!

[idwiyo]

52. You are absolutely right.

Allow farmers to cultivate commercially marijuana, opium poppy, coca trees but make sure they sell only to government (kind of like milk quota in Canada).
Allow private cultivation for personal use, like Uruguay did with marijuana.
Sell well below street price AND make sure addicts get their fix even for free to keep them from committing the crimes or using shit like krokodil.
Make sure medical help is available.

Sit down, relax & watch the effect it will have on drug cartels, drug related crime and addiction rates.

I'd go further and legalise prostitution, unionise them and open state controlled establishments run like co-ops by sex workers themselves. Set up strictly enforced set of medical testing and rules for condom use. Direct police to deal with illegal operations and set very strict sentencing rules (I'd go for mandatory hard labour for 10y or so, without exceptions, infirm criminals can sure contribute by doing appropriate duties like cleaning, laundry, etc) + confiscation of all property.

Again, sit down and enjoy the music.

We will never get rid of both drug use and prostitution, so best is keep it safe, legal and unprofitable for crime lords.