Desomorphine Goes “Crocodile”

Abstract

A systematic review was conducted to identify the available data for the term Krokodil, which is a jargon expression for an allegedly new drug. Krokodil seems to be a mixture of several substances and was first used in Russia in 2003, with a tremendous increase in the number of addicted individuals since then. The psychoactive core agent of Krokodil is desomorphine, an opioid-analogon that can be manufactured by boiling tablets containing codeine and other ingredients. The procedure results in a suspension that is used intravenously and regularly causes complications such as abscess, thrombophlebitis, and gangrene.

Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence and risk determinants among people who inject drugs in the Republic of Georgia

“…It is used as a cheaper alternative to heroin. "Krokodil" is now widely spread in Russia, Ukraine and this drug is seen in European countries and USA [25,26]. Desomorphine was first captured by IBBS studies in 2009 and in 2012 and was mentioned as a most widespread injected drug [27].…”

Patterns of new drug emergence: A comment in light of ‘krokodil’

“…Much of the material on krokodil use comes from journalists and focuses on individual users. A similar but smaller compilation ofinformation about krokodil suffers from the same weakness (Gahr et al, 2012). Missing rs is any data on the extent of the problem, its geographic penetration and its prevalence in areas that have been penetrated.…”

‘Krokodil’ and other home-produced drugs for injection: A perspective from Ukraine

“…Having worked in Ukraine for the past 12 years, including in the cities of Kiev, Odessa, Donetsk, Nikolayev and Simferopol, the dangers linked to home-produced drug solutions are all too apparent (Skowronek, Celinski, & Chowaniec, 2012; Gahr et al, 2012). These include opiates such as shirka or hemia (in Odessa), stimulants such as vint, jeff and boltushka, and, more recently, krokodil (Booth, Kennedy, Brewster, & Semerik, 2003; Booth, Kwiatkowski, Brewster, Sinitsyna, & Dvoryak, 2006; Booth, Mikulich-Gilbertson, Brewster, Salomonson-Sautel, & Semerik, 2004; Chintalova-Dallas, Case, Kitsenko, & Lazzarine 2009).…”