Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Krokodil: The drug which gives you a one-year life expectancy

 

Monday 24 September 2012 11:25 BST
Comments
(Getty Images)

Last year, The Independent reported on Krokodil, the home-made heroin substitute which is severely affecting thousands of people in Russia.

Users can experience horrendous withdrawal symptoms, including seizures, a 40-degree temperature, vomiting, losing teeth and rotting gums, if they are lucky enough to survive.

Russia has more heroin users than any other country in the world – up to two million, according to unofficial estimates.

While heroin costs from £20 to £60 per dose, desomorphine can be "cooked" from codeine-based headache pills that cost £2 per pack, and other household ingredients available cheaply - including eye drops, caffeine, and gasoline.

Vice filmed a stark documentary called Krokodil Tears, which looks into the popularity of the toxic drug.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in