Krokodil (Desomorphine): The Deadly “Zombie Drug” Effect

Krokodil, the street name for Desomorphine, is a highly dangerous and illicit drug known for its potent, short-lived, high, and devastating physical effects on the body and, notably – the Krokodil skin effect.

Initially developed as a less addictive alternative to morphine, it was soon banned due to its severe side effects and high potential for abuse. Despite its ban, Krokodil has reemerged as a popular, low-cost alternative to heroin, particularly in Russia and Ukraine, where its homemade production has led to addiction and alarming health consequences. Understanding its uses, side effects, addictive properties, and severe medical repercussions is crucial for raising awareness of its dangers.

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What Is Krokodil (Desomorphine)?

Desomorphine is the medical drug name for Krokodil. Krokodil is also known as Krok, Crocodile, Croc, and the poor man’s heroin. It is an extremely dangerous illicit drug typically “cooked” or made at home using toxic ingredients and codeine.

Desomorphine first came on the scene in the U.S. in the 1930s. Like many new drugs, it was made with the idea of being less addictive. Desomorphine was said to be less addictive than morphine, but this was proved to be untrue, and it was banned in the US in 1936.

However, Switzerland continued the use of Desomorphine for two more decades before it was withdrawn from the market in the 50s. By the 1960s, Desmorphine became a “Schedule 1 Substance under the Controlled Substances Act”. This drug classification gave Desmorphine its rightfully abhorrent reputation as it is not accepted for medical use for any treatment, and it has a high potential for abuse.

Unfortunately, the banning of this drug has not stopped the rise of addiction to Krokodil in Russia and Ukraine. In fact, “a drop in Afghan heroin production and its “exports” to Russia gave rise to widespread consumption of desomorphine in ex-Soviet republics during the first decade of the 21st”

In short, heroin was harder to find, so users resorted to making their own version with codeine.

The result?

A homemade horror drug – Krokodil – which gives a fast-acting and extremely potent euphoric high to the user. This drug is a cheaper alternative to other opioids and provides pain relief and sedation. The drug is typically injected through the veins, and the onset effects take place in 2-3 minutes but only last about two hours.

The short-term high and the potency of the drug create a recipe for addiction and physical dependency. To maintain the high and stave off withdrawal symptoms, the user will seek to reinject multiple times a day. This not only increases the risk of a drug overdose but multiplies the exposure to unsanitary needles and the potential for infection.

How Is Krokodil Used?

Krokodil is typically injected intravenously (aka an IV directly into the vein). The forearm is a common spot for injection due to its accessibility.

Users will often combine several toxic ingredients with codeine. Ingredients like hydrochloric acid, household cleaners, gasoline, and paint thinners are all commonly used with the drug codeine to “cook” up the injectable liquid.

Even the process of making this drug is hazardous to the individual. Many of these toxic ingredients can cause chemical burns, and the fumes released during drug production can lead to long-term health concerns.

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Krokodil Drug Pictures

One pronounced detail with Desomorphine usage is the obvious skin and vein damage caused by the injection. The nickname Krokodil is no coincidence. The effects of this drug on the injection sight and other places on the body produce a crocodile-like effect on the skin.

Desomorphine can cause the skin to blacken or turn grayish-green and scab over. The flaky, scaly effect resembles reptilian skin, thus the nickname Krokodil Skin.

Why Is Krokodil Also Known as the “Zombie Drug”?

For chronic users, the skin damage can escalate to severe infection, causing the skin to appear almost zombie-like. The damage this drug does to the skin, organs, and even the central nervous system cannot be underestimated.

Krokodil is often known as the “zombie drug” because it can lead to infections and skin diseases like Gangrene. Gangrene is simply the death of body tissue. The skin dies, turning gray or green, and falls off, exposing unprotected new skin that is raw, red, and often bleeding. It is extremely painful and unpleasant. These open wounds also put the individual at risk for other infections and diseases. Gangrene can spread from the skin to vital organs—if left untreated, these infections can be fatal.

The “zombie” effect of this drug is intensified by the presence of a skin infection known as Eschars. This wound is often dark brown, tan, or black, resembling a piece of steel wool. The various stages of Eschar indicate its severity. A stage four eschar goes deep into the skin and can reveal muscle, bone, and tendons.

Krokodil Drug Effects

Krokodil Drug Effect will initially provide a powerful euphoric high and pain relief, but these temporary sensations quickly give way to severe withdrawal symptoms and life-threatening complications. The immediate and prolonged effects can cause irreversible damage, making it one of the deadliest illicit drugs in use today.

Short-Term Effects of Krok

The first effect of Desomorphine will be a euphoric high that is ten times stronger than morphine. However, the high will wear off in about 2 hours, and withdrawal symptoms will take over quickly.

Even one-time usage can have severe effects. Some of the short-term effects are:

• Euphoria
• Pain relief
• Sedation
• Drowsiness
• Relaxation
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Cognitive impairment
• Respiratory depression – this can cause slowed or shallow breathing, which can be life-threatening.

While some of these effects may be desirable – such as pain relief or relaxation – Desmorphine is an extremely dangerous illicit drug with high mortality rates. It has been deemed unsafe for medical use and found increasingly lethal in recreational incidents.

The Long-Term Effects of Krok

The long-term effects of Krokodil can include the following non-exhaustive list:

• blood vessel damage (thrombophlebitis)
• open ulcers
• blood poisoning
• blood-borne viruses like HIV and Hep C
• soft tissue infections
• skin infection like gangrene and eschars
• meningitis
• rotting gums or tooth loss
• pneumonia
• bone infections (osteomyelitis) and osteonecrosis
• limb amputations
• speech and motor skills impairment
• memory loss and impaired concentration
• liver and kidney damage
• overdose
• respiratory depressant effect (slowed or stopped breathing) – this can be fatal

If left untreated, these severe effects can escalate quickly and be lethal to the user.

Krokodil Addiction Risk

Krokodil’s high risk of addiction is attributed to its extremely high potency and short-lived effects. Users experience the desired euphoric high within minutes of injecting, but the effects wear off after only two hours. This leads to a cycle of frequent re-injection and multiple doses in a day, which heightens the risk of physical dependency.

Opioid tolerance is a significant contributor to Krokodil’s high-risk factors. As with most opioids, repeated use leads to higher tolerance and higher doses to achieve the desired effect. However, the drug’s short life span in the body can prompt severe withdrawal symptoms, taking effect quickly and aggressively.

Krokodil withdrawal symptoms are often similar to morphine withdrawal symptoms and may include:

• Extreme Agitation
• Severe pain
• Craving
• Anxiety and anxiety attacks
• Increased blood pressure, pulse, breathing rate, or body temperature
• Muscle aches
• Tremors
• Seizure
• Insomnia
• Sweating
• Yawning
• Abdominal cramping
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting

The intense withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid use drive users to seek immediate relief. Breaking Krokodil’s addiction is both difficult and dangerous.

Krokodil withdrawal symptoms are a serious matter of concern for the safety of your loved ones. It is strongly encouraged that individuals with a dependence on any opioid seek out medically managed detox treatments.

While the presence of Krokodil addiction is relatively unknown in the U.S., it is often more affordable than heroin and more widely available, especially in countries like Russia or Ukraine. Because this is a self-made drug with intense euphoric effects, the likelihood of increased exposure and experimentation is high. Addiction rates are already quite high in Russia – with over 100,000 people injecting the drug in one year. This affordability and accessibility make it a dangerous option for those seeking cheaper alternatives to heroin, pulling more individuals into the tragic cycle of addiction.

Krokodil Overdose

Overdoses are common with Krokodil due to the unpredictable nature of its production. At-home chemists are rarely accurate with their process, or sterile with their equipment. Since the drug is often made in hazardous environments using toxic ingredients like gasoline and paint thinners, there is no way for users to accurately measure their dose of the base drug codeine.

Additionally, the “cooks” of this drug are often users themselves. This means they are creating more of this drug while potentially under the influence of Krokodil or other substances or suffering withdrawal symptoms, which all impair mental cognition.

This is a recipe for disaster as the unpredictability leads to an increased risk of overdosing and death.

Krokodil acts as a depressant on the central nervous system, causing dangerous respiratory depression. In cases of Krokodil overdose, breathing can slow or stop entirely, leading to a carbon dioxide build-up in your blood. This reaction limits the flow of oxygen and can lead to respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, brain damage, and death.

Overdose can also be more likely when users attempt to transition between different opioids, such as heroin and Krokodil. As mentioned before, Krokodil is ten times more potent than morphine. If a drug abuser chooses to switch drugs and is not aware of the potentially lethal doses they administer – even one-time use of Krokodil can lead to death.

Get Treatment for Krokodil Addiction at Gratitude Lodge

Krokodil is a deadly drug that has left a trail of destruction in its wake. Given its devastating effects and the high risk of overdose, Krokodil is a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by synthetic drugs and the urgent need for awareness and intervention.

If you or a loved one needs medical intervention for an addiction to Desomorphine, consider Gratitude Lodge for your next steps. Our treatment programs offer:

• Talk therapy
• Medication-assisted treatment
• Counseling
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• Holistic therapy
• Aftercare

Get the treatment you need for Krokodile addiction today by calling our recovery team at 844-576-0144.

Sources

1. https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedules/schedules.html
2. https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/pcp.html
3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1070723/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK574918/
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310658/