Opioids
Krokodil (Desomorphine)
Street names: Krokodil, Crocodile, Russian magic
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Short, powerful opioid high (8–10× morphine, shorter than heroin)
⚠Key risks
- THE FLESH-EATING DRUG — impurities (phosphorus, gasoline residue) destroy tissue at injection sites: black scaly skin (hence 'crocodile'), rotting flesh, exposed bone
- Gangrene, amputations, organ damage
- Russia's 2010s epidemic — thousands of users with horrendous wounds
- Life expectancy after addiction onset: 2–3 years
- DIY synthesis = poison injected directly
✚Overdose signs
- Respiratory depression
- Rotting injection sites, black skin
- Sepsis, organ failure
Category comparison — Opioids
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krokodil (Desomorphine) | Schedule I | THE FLESH-EATING DRUG — impurities (phosphorus, gasoline residue) destroy tissue at injection sites: black scaly skin (hence 'crocodile'), rotting flesh, exposed bone; Gangrene, amputations, organ damage | Homemade — ~cost of codeine pills + solvents |
| Heroin | Schedule I | Extremely addictive — physical dependence in weeks; Overdose: breathing slows or stops | ~$10–$40 per bag |
| Fentanyl | Schedule II | Respiratory depression; Addiction in days | ~$20–$40 per counterfeit pill |
| Fentanyl HCl (powder) | Schedule II / analogue prosecutions | Lab-purity powder is far stronger than street mixes; Weighing errors are fatal | ~$60–$120/gram wholesale equivalent |
| Acetylfentanyl | Schedule I | ~5–15× weaker than fentanyl but still deadly at gram-level mistakes; Frequent cause of cluster overdoses | ~$25–$60/g where found |
| Furanylfentanyl (Fu-F) | Schedule I | Linked to hundreds of fatal overdoses 2016–2018; Potency similar to fentanyl | ~$20–$50/g |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Krokodil (Desomorphine) look like?
Homemade injectable from codeine pills + gasoline + iodine + red phosphorus — dirty amber liquid
What are the signs of a Krokodil (Desomorphine) overdose?
Respiratory depression; Rotting injection sites, black skin; Sepsis, organ failure Call emergency services immediately and give naloxone if available — it reverses opioid overdoses.
How addictive is it?
THE FLESH-EATING DRUG — impurities (phosphorus, gasoline residue) destroy tissue at injection sites: black scaly skin (hence 'crocodile'), rotting flesh, exposed bone Dependence can develop with regular use.