Crocodile Drug AKA Zombie Drug | Heroin Alternative for Poor

A month ago, I was working in ER and the female patient came in asking for help. She was holding her left arm flexed in front of her body asking me to check it. It was winter time, and the snow was really thick. So, I assumed she fell and broke her arm. I assumed she was 35 years old, or something like that. I never was good at guessing one's age, but this time I was sure she was in her 30s. 

She seemed really sick, and in pain too. I asked her to come in, and to take off the jacket and shirt, to see that arm. N. did it slowly. It seemed really painful. When she took her shirt of, I was shocked to see in what condition her forearm was. Whole forearm was green and blue, dry, with deep fissures, and one centimeter deep ulcer on the surface. The ulcer was penetrating muscle tissue, and almost reaching the bone. It was 4 centimeters in diameter, obviously still active and spreading.

Patient wasn't able to move the wrist, and the hand was out of the function too. Nerves were damaged, and the wound was infected. Around the elbow, I noticed purple strings, warm, and very painful on pressure. It was phlebitis, an infection of the veins. 

N. had high temperature, she was covered in sweat, pale, breathing deep and frequently. I knew she had severe infection, possibly sepsis. But what was the cause? It must be some previous deep damage of the forearm. This way she would bring bacteria deeper in tissue, which would later lead to this.

My first two questions were: "When did this happen?" and "What did you do?"

It is derivative of codeine, known as desomorphine.

Codeine is medical substance used for treating mild to severe pain, cough, and diarrhea. It is derivative of opium, and it is cheap medicine. You are not required to have prescription in most countries to buy codeine in pharmacy. In the medical institution where I work, this substance is used mostly for treating severe respiratory infections, which are painful, and cough is resistant to most of other drugs. 

Desomorphine is known to science for long time, and it is highly unlikely to cause such symptoms my patient had. It is because homemade "Krokodil" is mixture of desomorphine, red phosphorus, iodine, light fluid, and some other dangerous substances. All of these ingredients are cheap, and addicts can get them easily. Some boiling is needed, of course.

After process of boiling, dense and orange crocodile drug is the result. Desomorphine made this way is highly impure, and contaminated with all sorts of corrosive and toxic byproducts. 

After just reading what substances one needs to prepare this zombie drug, everyone can understand  why is it so popular, but also, why is it so deadly and devastating to your body. 

In this new, exciting article, Katie writes about addiction, how to avoid co-dependency, and what to do if someone close to you is an addict? There are lots of types of addictions: from those addictions to chocolate and video-games, to those addictions to drugs: just like to one of those similar to Crocodile drug.

Katie, in her article, goes through the most common co-dependecies and advise us how to deal with them. She writes from her own experience, adding strong personal touch to the story. Something you don't want to miss:

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