In 1932, desomorphine was first synthesized from codeine and utilized as a way to sedate patients and treat more severe pain. No one at the time could have foreseen the deadly desomorphine overdose rates that would occur later. It was soon discovered that desomorphine is 10 times stronger than morphine and three times more toxic. By 1981, use of desomorphine ended for the following reasons:

• It’s highly toxic in comparison to morphine
• There’s strong potential for depression
• It’s highly addictive
• Overdose happens too easily

Desomorphine (krokodil) is illegal in the United States. Today, it exists only as a street drug… a very dangerous street that can easily lead to desomorphine overdose.

Even though the medical community used desomorphine for more than 30 years, its existence as the street drug krokodil is little known in America. This is in sharp contrast to the havoc it was wreaked on Russia and parts of Eastern Europe where desomorphine overdose is an ever-present danger.

The reasons for the widespread use in Russia and the increase in the desomorphine overdose rate has much to do with the fact that codeine was sold for years without a prescription. Codeine is needed to make desomorphine so its ready availability in Russia gave birth to a booming industry.

Makers of illegal krokodil simply have to take codeine and mix it with toxic substances like paint thinner and gasoline as well as alcohol, iodine and red phosphorus. This hideous combination of ingredients yields desomorphine (a process that uses some of the very same lethal ingredients as illegal meth cooks). Users generally inject the drug, which can cause horrible infections similar to a flesh-eating virus due to all of the impure substances used. When desomorphine overdose occurs, these horrifying physical effects have been observed by emergency medical personnel.

It’s worth noting that the raise in desomorphine and the desomorphine overdose rate was a direct result of the Russian government’s crackdown on heroin. It was an odd mirroring of the actions of several states in the US that cracked down on prescription painkillers, only to witness heroin become more popular in those states.

In fact, the two countries share an enormous problem: runaway opioid abuse. Like any opiate, desomorphine, heroin and prescription painkillers all originate with the opium poppy. Desomorphine is the only opiate of the three that depends on additional toxic ingredients in the manufacturing process. Given the extremely dangerous composition of desomorphine, desomorphine overdose is a frequent result.

Why Does Useage of Desomorphine Lead to Desomorphine Overdose?

Desomorphine (krokodil) works effectively as a painkiller in that it affects the opioid receptors on nerve cells. What are opioid receptors exactly? They are proteins that exist on the surface of nerve cells, and they serve to decrease any physical pain that we may experience in our daily lives.

To reduce pain, the body creates chemicals, such as endorphins, to lessen pain. Endorphins get released by the body to reduce pain during vigorous exercise as well as produce a feeling of overall well being. Desomorphine binds to nerve cells, making them less sensitive, much like morphine.

Less responsive nerve cells don’t transmit pain signals to the brain as quickly as unaffected nerve cells do. As a result, the sensation of pain doesn’t get to the spinal cord and brain as fast as it would normally.

As with any opioid, use of desomorphine tends to increase as users develop a tolerance and require larger doses to achieve a high or to avoid feeling sick. The  consequences can be dire, and desomorphine overdose is always a possibility for any user.

Other Effects of Desomorphine

As previously noted, the analgesic effect of desomorphine is approximately 10 times greater than morphine and three times more toxic. Unlike morphine, the euphoric effects of desomorphine only last a couple of hours. As a drug taken recreationally, the short effective time of desomorphine is a very dangerous trait because it compels users to take it more frequently in order to experience the high, which puts them at high risk for desomorphine overdose.

Like heroin, desomorphine occupies a space in the body and the body soon becomes dependence on it. When deprived of the drug, the body is thrown in confusion and painful withdrawal symptoms quickly appear. Many people continue taking desomorphine not to get high but simply to avoid the withdrawal symptoms. Addiction to desomorphine happens easily because of the drug’s quick onset and short duration, which compels its users to dose frequently. Because of its many dangerous qualities, desomorphine overdose is a frequent result.

What is the Extent of Desomorphine Use & Desomorphine Overdose?

Russian drug dealers have been cooking illegal desomorphine for more than 10 years. According to the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, a shocking one million Russian citizens use desomorphine, known as “Cheornaya” in Russia and “Himiya” in the Ukraine. Arrests by Russian authorities are increasing as well. The amount of desomorphine confiscated on Russian soil increased by a factor of 23 between 2009 and 2011, according to the Russian Federal Drug Control Service. Unfortunately, desomorphine overdose is being seen in other countries as well, including Georgia, Kazakhstan, Germany and Norway. A few isolated cases have been reported in America as well.

Desomorphine has largely superseded the previous drug of choice in Russia: Afghan heroin. At one time, the most popular homemade injectable drug, Afghan heroin became harder to get due to an Afghan opium crop fungal disease that occurred in 2010. Consequently, opium production in that country dropped by nearly 50% from the previous year.

When heroin became expensive and harder to find, Russian users were pushed toward other drugs such as codeine, which is still used in over-the-counter medications such as Solpadeine, Codelac and Codterpin for cough or pain. From there, it was an easy progression to the codeine-containing drug desomorphine, which soon lead to record numbers of desomorphine overdose victims.

Codeine is considerably harder to get ahold of in the United States. Here, codeine is designated as a controlled substance, requiring a doctor’s prescription. Due to the difficulty of obtaining codeine, creating desomorphine in America is difficult but certainly not impossible. Reports of desomorphine overdose were virtually non-existent until 2013 when several states made official inquires about desomorphine and desomorphine overdose. Although the DEA is reluctant to state that desomorphine is being used in the United States, it’s also quite possible some people are using it, believing it to be heroin.

A comprehensive list of reported health hazards due to desomorphine use is one of the most terrifying imaginable. The symptoms and consequences of desomorphine use and desomorphine overdose include:

• Blood vessel damage
• Memory loss
• Impaired concentration
• Bone infections (osteomyelitis)
• Green, scaly skin
• Patches of rotting skin that peels off
• Open ulcers, gangrene, phlebitis
• Skin and soft tissue infections
• Rotting gums/tooth loss
• Limb amputations
• Speech impairment
• Motor skills impairment
• Pneumonia
• Blood poisoning
• Meningitis
• Liver and kidney damage
• Blood-borne virus transmission (HIV/HCV due to needle sharing)
• Fingers and toes that rot and fall off
• Rotting flesh that falls off the bone
• Death

Reports suggest that the shocking effects to the skin can occur fairly quickly after desomorphine drug use has begun. Officials in Russia now consider half of all drug-related deaths to be a direct result of desomorphine overdose.

In a pattern similar to that experienced by heroin users, desomorphine users are quickly addicted and may indulge in binges that last days or weeks. Desomorphine users are always at additional risk due to the unknown composition of any given batch of the drug. Great variations in potency put addicted individuals at high risk of desomorphine overdose.

Unfortunately, desomorphine users share a common trait with others taking illegal substances: they fear being arrested if they admit to using. That means people experiencing life-threatening symptoms such as gangrene may hesitate seeking medical help for fear of legal action as a consequence. This also can prevent individuals from seeking effective drug rehab treatment for the same reason.

What Does Desomorphine Withdrawal Look Like?

A near-fatal desomorphine overdose should be a strong incentive to seek professional detox and rehab help. Detox from desomorphine (krokodil) is no easy task and it’s strongly recommended that this only be attempted under the care of trained medical professionals at a reputable detox center.

Detox from desomorphine has some similarities with detox from other opioids and falls into three broad stages: early stage, peak stage and long-term stage. Due to the power of the drug, desomorphine detox isn’t a quick process. While heroin detox generally takes a week or so, complete desomorphine detox can take up to a month in some cases. Detox is difficult but it’s necessary in order to avoid experiencing another desomorphine overdose. To better understand the detox process, let’s examine the stages in more detail:

Early Stage: In this stage, expect to experience fever, headache, chills and mood changes. This stage might last from 12 to 24 hours for morphine detox. Given the much higher potency of desomorphine, this stage may take much longer.

Peak Stage: At this stage, the withdrawal symptoms are the most intense. Symptoms include nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, severe headaches and a generalized feeling of sickness. In a self-detox situation, this is when patients relapse, only to face further danger of desomorphine overdose. In a typical morphine detox, the peak stage will usually last a few days. For someone addicted to desomorphine (krokodil), detox may be several weeks.

Long-Term Stage: This final stage of desomorphine detox can last for months and in some cases years. Muscle aches, nervousness, insomnia and general weakness all characterize this stage of desomorphine detox. Since this stage of detox is so long, users require a network of support so that they won’t relapse and put themselves in danger of a desomorphine overdose again. Essential in this stage and in drug rehab is learning effective coping techniques to deal with cravings and developing a support network that will keep you on track to successful recovery.

Getting Help To Avoid Desomorphine Addiction & Desomorphine Overdose

Any addiction is difficult to overcome. With the devastation that desomorphine can inflict on its victims, desomorphine addiction is one of the most difficult to overcome, which is why professional detox and rehab are necessary for a truly successful recovery. Without professional help and an effective support network, it’s too easy to relapse and put yourself at risk for desomorphine overdose that can be fatal. Can treatment save you from a desomorphine overdose down the road? Yes, but that can only happen if you take treatment seriously and commit yourself totally to rehab.

Have you experienced a desomorphine overdose? Is someone you love in danger of experiencing a desomorphine overdose? If so, it’s crucial that you seek professional help as soon as possible.