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Desomorphine goes "crocodile".

Maximilian Gahr1, Roland W Freudenmann, Christoph Hiemke

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany. gahr@uni-ulm.de

Journal of Addictive Diseases
|December 19, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Krokodil, a desomorphine-based drug originating in Russia, has seen a rise in addiction since 2003. Its intravenous use leads to severe health issues like gangrene and abscesses.

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Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Toxicology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Krokodil is a street name for a desomorphine-based opioid analog.
  • First identified in Russia in 2003, its use has surged.
  • It is synthesized from codeine-containing medications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a systematic review of available data on Krokodil.
  • To understand the composition and effects of this illicit drug.
  • To identify associated health complications.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature review.
  • Analysis of reported cases and chemical composition data.
  • Identification of adverse health outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Krokodil is an intravenous drug mixture with desomorphine as the psychoactive component.
  • Its synthesis involves boiling codeine tablets.
  • Common complications include abscesses, thrombophlebitis, and gangrene.

Conclusions:

  • Krokodil poses significant public health risks due to its dangerous synthesis and severe adverse effects.
  • Increased surveillance and harm reduction strategies are warranted.
  • Desomorphine abuse is a growing concern in regions where Krokodil is prevalent.