Krokodil: photos of the drug that makes your skin fall off and makes you wish heroin was legal

WHAT is Krokodil? Gavon Laessig tells us that it’s a version of desomorphine, a super-strong opiate. Reports are that it’s made form mixing codeine with petrol, paint thinner, hydrochloric acid, iodine and red phosphorous. (Most users think they’re injecting heroin.) It’s name come from the reaction users get to taking it: their skin turns scaly like a crocodile’s. Gangrene set it. The skin falls off. It is utterly revolting. In Russia the drugs consumes you. But it’s now been found in Chicago. Some of these pictures were released by Dr Abhin Singla, of Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, who says: ‘The goriness of the pictures of rotting arms and legs are hard to look at, but I think parents really need to share them with their kids.” (These images are tough to look at. The wounds are hideous.)