Shocking and gory images, depicting some Stephen King cult-classic, have flooded social media and now have mainstream news scurrying to confirm a factual or fictional fear. Is it just hype or could the Russian drug, Krokodil, actually be a most horrifying reality? Comically speaking, America's favorite meth chef, Walt White, better look out; Krokodil is a mean-green-flesh eating machine that's "Breaking Bad" on the blue stuff!
"Krokodil", "Zombie Drug" and "Poor Man's Meth" are a few street names for the flesh-eating drug that may be reaping havoc across the nation.
Scientifically, "Desomorphine" is the proper name and the primary ingredient contained in Krokodil. According to the National Library of Medicine, Desomorphine is categorized as an opiate and considered to be in the same class as heroin, ocycodone and codeine.
Homemade Desomorphine (Krokodil) traces back to Russian roots where codeine is available as an over-the-counter remedy. Krokodil surfaced around 2003 and includes ingredients such as hydrochloric acid, gasoline, paint thinner and lighter fluid (beware America - soon you may be showing I.D to buy more than just cold medicine).
The underground cooking process is similar to manufacturing methamphetamine. Krokodil is considered very high risk due to impurity and toxic agents. The euphoric experience, always dependable with opiates, is described as a highly potent, extremely addictive, fast action ride that provides only for a short high.
The street name, Krokodil, originates from the appearance of a users scaly-skin and the tissue damage caused from constant impure-injections that cause vein injury and gangrene infections. The spread of HIV and a slow-death is also a risk where Krokodil is concerned. Withdrawal symptoms from the drug are also reported to be gruesomely brutal.
Possible occurrences of Krokodil use has been documented in Chicago, Arizona, and Utah. However, federal officials and experts are hesitant to declare the drug as a threat. It has even declassified from the "worst-of-the-worst" drug category, according to some reports.
So the question to ponder is perhaps one of validity. Is American Krokodil all hype simply frenzied by a social media epidemic, or is it likely to become a real "American Horror Story?" One thing is for sure, the AMC Network could really score on a sequel series to "Breaking Bad" with this one; flesh eating zombies and Walt Jr., oh my!
© 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
