When hearing the word “crocodile”, people think of a green and dangerous amphibian that eats human flesh. A drug called Krokodil, originating from Russia, is named after the crocodile due to its effect of forming scaly sores and transforming the skin to a hue of green before it rots. This homemade drug was previously only seen in Russia, but has made several appearances in the United States.

Krokodil, also called desomorphine because it eats away at the flesh, is referred to as a “synthetic heroine.”This drug is used in the same way as heroine as users inject this drug to get high. Made with a mixture of lethal materials such as codeine, iodine, gasoline, paint thinner, hydrochloric acid, lighter fluid and red phosphorus, Krokodil is used as an inexpensive alternative for drug users in Russia. According to Dr. Frank LoVecchio, the co-medical director at Banner’s Poison Control Center, he states, “What is catastrophic is what happens to your skin. What is catastrophic is what happens to the insides of you. It dissolves people’s fat and dissolves people’s muscle tissue.”Since this concoction is made from lethal substances such as oil and gasoline, most users would boil and filter the drug before injecting, thinking that this procedure would make the drug sanitary. In contrast, LoVecchio explains, “They extract (the drug), and even though they believe that most of the oil and gasoline is gone, there is still remnants of it.”Monitored since 2010 by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Krokodil has been a highly toxic and addictive substance that affected millions mostly near Russia’s east region of Siberia. It was reported that Russia’s Federal Drug Control Service confiscated nearly 65 million doses of Krokodil in one year. However, this drug has now been reported in the United States in states such as Arizona and New Jersey. The first two cases of this drug were reported in Arizona by the poison control center in Phoenix. Now medical professionals are worried that this may have started the epidemic of Krokodil in the United States.

Since cases of this drug have now been introduced to the United States, medical professionals and citizens in local areas have started to comment on this situation. Dr. Gupta, a family physician from Irvine said, “I’m not surprised that another drug has arisen. I’m just worried that teenagers who can’t afford the high prices of authentic drugs will go for this one because it is less expensive.”

Gina Park
Santa Margarita Catholic High school
11th Grade