Desomorphine goes "crocodile"

J Addict Dis. 2012;31(4):407-12. doi: 10.1080/10550887.2012.735570.

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.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / chemical synthesis
  • Analgesics, Opioid / chemistry
  • Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology*
  • Designer Drugs / chemical synthesis
  • Designer Drugs / chemistry
  • Designer Drugs / pharmacology*
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Morphine Derivatives / chemical synthesis
  • Morphine Derivatives / chemistry
  • Morphine Derivatives / pharmacology*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Russia
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Designer Drugs
  • Morphine Derivatives