2 new street drugs to watch: Krokodil and 2C-P.
New drugs are always emerging on the street and two of these are alarming both law enforcements and health care experts: krokodil and 2C-P. Drug users are often inventive and these two substances are proving to be especially dangerous.
Originally confined to Russia, krokodil cases have recently been reported in the United States and other countries. Krokodil is a cheap form of cocaine that is mixed with gasoline, oil, alcohol or paint thinner and is injected directly into addict’s bodies through a hypodermic needle. The high produced by krokodil is reportedly ten times that of cocaine.
Time magazine reported that krokodil (or desomorphine- the chemical name for the main ingredient) is “burning its way through Arizona, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma, Colorado, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. The monster has crossed the ocean.” (Time, December 2013).
Krokodil most often causes dark, green or black scaly patches of dead and decaying skin. This grotesque side effect gave rise to the street name “krokodil,” or crocodile. Those who eventually overcome their addiction to the drug are still often severely disfigured for life; suffering serious scarring, bone damage, amputated limbs, speech impediments, poor motor skills and varying degrees of brain damage.
Also, Fox news recently reported that 2C-P is a little known synthetic hallucinogen with only a brief history of use, but is long-lasting and very potent. 2C-P’s intense psychedelic effects don’t begin until a few hours after a person takes it, but they can last for 10 to 20 hours and are more vivid and potent than those with ecstasy or “Molly” products and much more like LSD, according to law enforcement officials.
Foxct.com reports that there are three reasons why 2C-P is so risky:
“First – there is a delay in onset of action of 2C-P of three hours. So people don’t think it is working and take more or take something else along with it.
Secondly, the difference between good and bad (possibly fatal) effects of 2C-P is only 2 milligrams apart…..
Third, the effects of 2C-P last a long time – like up to 18 hours. So while the effects of “Molly” are wearing off in a few hours, this drug lingers on and on.” (foxct.com)
Individuals should be wary of both krokodil and 2C-P because of their volatility, risky nature and because of the dangers associated with these illegal street drugs.