Krokodil the ‘zombie’ drug on its way to NSW

IT’S the flesh-eating drug that left a trail of “zombies” in its wake when it ravaged Russia. Now there are fears Krokodil could hit Aussie shores.

‘Zombie effect”: The effects of the drug Krokodil that turns the skin scaly at the site of injection.

NSW Police are warning about a flesh-eating drug called Krokodil that left a trail of “zombies” in its wake when it ravaged Russia.

Ten times more powerful than morphine and more potent and cheaper than heroin, the codeine- based drug gets its name from the physical effects it has on users. The skin on users’ limbs, where the drug is injected, peels and becomes scaly like a crocodile’s skin.

The use of paint thinner and petrol to make Krokodil (Russian for crocodile) contribute to the corrosive effects it has on the body, leading to gangrene.

The drug rots flesh to the bone, making users look like “zombies’’.

Krokodil can turns the skin scaly at the site of injection.

The ‘high’ is similar to that of heroin.

A senior police source said “it was only a matter of time” before the drug made it onto on to Sydney streets.

“I’ve been tracking it as it’s been coming down. It hasn’t made it here yet but it’s only a matter of time,” he said.

“What’s so scary about it is the precursors are readily available and they can cook it up at home, you don’t need sophisticated clandestine labs — and it’s more addictive than ice.

“It’s two years from addiction to death.”

The source said authorities were worried because the cheap high would appeal to people who already used drugs.

Penington Institute CEO John Ryan said a shortage in heroin availability could lead to users turning to Krokodil.

“The reason it ramped up in Moscow was heroin availability reduced dramatically and we have had changing availability in heroin in Australia recently, most of it has shifted into other forms of prescription opioids, so it’s not impossible,” he said.

“Absolutely the products are available and the home bake complexity is not very high so you can do it at home.”

Reducing the availability of codeine at Russian chemists stemmed Krokodil’s spread but there are still several million addicts across the country.

Its use has spread to western Europe and the United States.

An inmate in Florida told authorities last month she had injected Krokodil before she died.

NSW Health said it was not aware of any hospital presentations for Krokodil’s side effects.

St Vincent Hospital’s Dr Gordian Fulde said he did not think the drug would take off in Sydney.

“I hope it doesn’t become fashionable here. If anyone experiments with it they are in big trouble It’s particularly horrible, it’s very destructive to the whole body, especially where they inject, very caustic, tissue dissolving substances. This thing gives you gangrene.”

NSW Police SCC Drug Squad Commander Detective Acting Superintendent Mick Cook said “while we are aware of this drug, there have been no reported cases of its manufacture or use in NSW.”

“Like any illicit drug, the biggest danger is that there is no way of knowing exactly what you are consuming,” he said.

“There is no quality control in the production process, so anytime you consume illicit drugs you are gambling with your life.”