WARNING: New drug threat on South Coast

DESOMORPHINE (dihydrodesoxymorphine), more commonly known by its street name ‘krokodil’, is a derivative of morphine.

Powerful, fast-acting and highly addictive is how the drug has been described, with opioid effects which will, more than likely, kill its user within two years. And it seems the devil has his sights set on the South Coast.

Unconfirmed reports of a drug which causes extreme ulcerations and infections, have been received on the South Coast. With the cost of a single straw of whoonga at around R30, krokodil could easily take over.

First patented in 1934, desomorphine was used in Switzerland under the brand name Permonid. It is described as fast-acting and a of short duration of action, with little nausea or respiratory depression, as opposed to the same doses of morphine. This is understandable, as desomorphine is eight to ten times more potent dose-by-dose.

Desomorphine did have medical uses, although this matters little now, as it was terminated in 1981.

The ingredients in this potent drug cannot be confirmed, much like whoonga, although it appears to be deadlier and cheaper.

The dangerous chemicals used in the production of krokodil are not always fully ‘cooked’ out, making the damage caused by the drug even worse. Injecting the drug can cause extreme ulcerations, infections and gangrene, a discolored scale-like skin that resembles that of a crocodile, hence the street name.

These are but a few of the hazards of being a krokodil user. Other hazards range from blood vessel damage to nerve damage and  the amputation of limbs.

Highs tend to last less than two hours, leaving the craving user with withdrawals worse than those associated with common forms of heroin such as whoonga.

Users who don’t shootup again soon experience excruciating withdrawals which can last for days. Due to the drug’s short highs, users quickly administer the drug again to avoid withdrawal pains, cramps, diarrhoea, insomnia and overall sickness, resulting in even quicker dependence.

Addicts who have been using for long periods of time cannot go without a single dose. Damage which has been caused is, in most cases, so extensive that the user has been left bed-ridden and unable to move. Most addicts are so bed-ridden that they lie in their own faeces. Those that can move about, remain still as their flesh has become so sensitive that the slightest touch causes unbearable amounts of pain.

According to the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services about one million people in Russia use krokodil.

Also reported was that the amount seized between 2009 and 2011 has since increased 23-fold (Russian Federal Drug Control Service).

Other countries to be hit by the drug include Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Germany, Norway and the United States of America – and now it’s knocking on our front door.

When whoonga hit South Africa the government was not sufficiently equipped to deal with the damage it caused to South Africans.

What would happen if a full breakout of krokodil occured? The whoonga epidemic started with one report – and now we have a report of krokodil.

What’s next?