Drug use among Russia's young people has gained national attention. More teens than ever are using (by injection) a designer drug called krokodil – crocodile in English. The drug has gone viral across the ocean, but what does it mean for drug users in the U.S.? How bad is crocodile? What do parents and anyone else concerned about drug abuse need to know?
Why is It Called Crocodile (or Krokodil)?
Russia's designer drug is called crocodile or krokodil because the skin turns green and scaly at the injection site. The appearance is much like the hide of a crocodile. The injection site can easily become infected in a non-sterile situation. What happens afterward is a lot like a horror movie scene: The skin begins to turn gangrenous and rots away. Loss of a limb can occur, but users can also suffer irreversible brain damage and can die from using crocodile. In general, users usually die in two to three years. Is this just another drug scare to keep kids from trying crocodile? No.
Crocodile has the same effect as heroin – both are "downers" or depressants that kill pain – but crocodile is much stronger. Crocodile (Krokodil) , whose medical name is desomorphine, is made by combining and cooking codeine (the active ingredient in many over-the-counter pain medications) with other ingredients such as gasoline, paint thinner, hydrochloric acid and iodine. Red phosphorous is also used by scraping the striking pad found on matchboxes. Time magazine's Simon Shuster / Chichevo, Russia, presents additional details and warns of the dangers associated with crocodile in the article, " The Curse of the Crocodile: Russia's Deadly Designer Drug " (June 20, 2011).
Should Americans Be Worried That Crocodile (Krokodil) Will Catch on in the U.S.?
There is always a cause for concern when a new, so-called "substitute" drug becomes available. In this case, one only has to go online to find the recipe and cooking instructions for making crocodile. There are other reasons why crocodile might also become a popular designer drug not only for teenagers, but for anyone of any age in the United States:
- The U.S. is still feeling the effects of the 2009 recession. Crocodile is cheap compared to many street drugs, including heroin.
- Crocodile has about the same effect as heroin, but doesn't last as long – roughly 1.5 to 2 hours.
- Crocodile is very easy to make from household products found in most U.S. homes, along with codeine which is very likely to be sitting in many American medicine cabinets.
Withdrawal from crocodile is no picnic either, according to Shaun Walker, contributing writer for The Independent. In a June 2011 article titled, "Krokodil: The Drug That Eats Junkies", Walker writes, quoting Dr. Artyom Yegorov, "With heroin withdrawal, the main symptoms last for five to 10 days. ... With krokodil, the pain can last up to a month, and it's unbearable. They have to be injected with extremely strong tranquilisers just to keep them from passing out from the pain."
Take Action Against Crocodile (Krokodil) with Drug Intervention
Take immediate action for a friend, neighbor, relative, coworker or anyone you know that's experimenting with or using crocodile. Parents in the U.S. are warned time and time again about the dangers of kids and drugs, but too many parents still think it can't happen to someone in their family. It's not just "bad" kids (and young adults) that are doing drugs, but many outgoing, straight-A students are doing drugs, too. Prescription medications and OTC drugs are more popular with the young crowd than expensive street drugs.
Avoid making drug use easy for your teen or anyone else.
- Keep all medications locked away and keep the key in a safe place.
- Lock up household items kept indoors that might lead to potential drug abuse.
- Outdoors, lock up paint thinners, liquid fertilizers, pesticides, cleaners and stored gasoline.
- Use a vehicle gas cap lock on each vehicle, including recreational vehicles.
- Share the latest drug information with neighbors, relatives, school administrators, church groups, coworkers, and anyone else who will listen.
Parental Obligations for Dealing with Drug Abuse
Parents have an obligation to talk to their teens about drugs and the serious consequences of substance abuse. Crocodile can cause seizures, brain damage and physical deformities to the user. It can also kill very easily.
Be aware of signs that might point to drug use, such as strong chemical odors on clothing or skin – particularly iodine. Look for sores on the skin and wearing unseasonable clothing (to hide sores). Listen for drug slang terms such as those found on the National Institute on Chemical Dependency (NICD) website: "Drug-Related Street Terms/Slang Words" (2011).
If you suspect drug abuse of any kind, then take action, even if it means eavesdropping on your teen's phone conversations, talking to other parents or checking on your older child's progress at school. Sneak a look at his computer while he's away, look through his backpack or search his bedroom. In other words, do what you as a parent have to do to stop your child from self-injury or possible death. Violating a teen's privacy is a small price to pay if it means keeping him alive and well.
Sources
- Time (World) Magazine (Online): "The Curse of the Crocodile: Russia's Deadly Designer Drug" (Simon Shuster / Chichevo, Russia, June 20, 2011).
- The Independent (Europe, Online): "Krokodil: The Drug That Eats Junkies" (Shaun Walker, June 2011).
- National Institute on Chemical Dependency (NICD Online) A dot us site (2011).
Mary King - Mary King is a Suite101 Topic Editor for the Caregiver Support and Home Management sections. She has authored 5 teen-based novels.
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