Krokodil is here

[41magsnub]

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/09/26/first-cases-flesh-eating-drug-krokodil-surface-in-us/

This crap is like meth squared.  Hopefully it doesn't take off with the junkies.

[AZRedhawk44]

Look at what it's made from:

1 drug that is prescription-only here in the US but OTC in Russia, and a bunch of household chemicals swooshed together in a home depot bucket.

It's dirt cheap to make.  It'll have a street price lower than meth, and a consumer in a lower place in life than meth users.

This is exactly why (downward-spiraling inventiveness) the Great War on Drugs will never be won, and Prohibition 2.0 needs to be abandoned.  Sell meth at the customer service counter right next to the Marlboros.

[Ben]

On the optimistic front, if this stuff leaves meth in the dust, does this mean they'll put the freakin' Sudafed back in the aisle with the other cold and allergy meds?

[Jamisjockey]

On the optimistic front, if this stuff leaves meth in the dust, does this mean they'll put the freakin' Sudafed back in the aisle with the other cold and allergy meds?

 

[roo_ster]

Look at what it's made from:

1 drug that is prescription-only here in the US but OTC in Russia, and a bunch of household chemicals swooshed together in a home depot bucket.

It's dirt cheap to make.  It'll have a street price lower than meth, and a consumer in a lower place in life than meth users.

This is exactly why (downward-spiraling inventiveness) the Great War on Drugs will never be won, and Prohibition 2.0 needs to be abandoned.  Sell meth at the customer service counter right next to the Marlboros.

Lower than a meth user.  Found not in the gutter, but in the scrapings at the bottom of the gutter.

I have been for legalizing it all for some time for lots of reasons, but "reasonably priced and relatively safe meth" alternative to this stuff was not one I had considered.  Ain't no legislature or LEO that can keep up with folk who want to blitz their brain.

On the optimistic front, if this stuff leaves meth in the dust, does this mean they'll put the freakin' Sudafed back in the aisle with the other cold and allergy meds?

Don't you know that that was considered a "success" in the WoSD?

Similar to morphine or heroin, krokodil is made by mixing codeine with substances like gasoline, paint thinner, oil or alcohol. That mixture is then injected into a vein, potentially causing an addict's skin to turn greenish, scaly and eventually rot away.

[MillCreek]

Wow.  I remember reading a really interesting story in the WSJ a couple of years ago on the use of this drug in Russia.  The story painted quite the picture about how rapidly the users tended to end up dead or gravely disabled.

[lee n. field]

Similar to morphine or heroin, krokodil is made by mixing codeine with substances like gasoline, paint thinner, oil or alcohol. That mixture is then injected into a vein, potentially causing an addict's skin to turn greenish, scaly and eventually rot away.

wow.

[Fitz]

Wow.  I remember reading a really interesting story in the WSJ a couple of years ago on the use of this drug in Russia.  The story painted quite the picture about how rapidly the users tended to end up dead or gravely disabled.

Sounds like society wins.





Color me unimpressed by sensationalist journalism.

EXTRA! EXTRA! Idiots find ways to seriously hurt/kill themselves! Read all about it! We must increase our efforts in the war on drugs. It's for the chilluns!

[41magsnub]

Not going to link them here, but a google image search on krokodil is very disturbing.

[Sindawe]

So another drug with legitimate use turned into a nasty blight from sloppy synthesis techniques.  Lovely.

Maybe as a society we should just supply the addicts with a clean supply so those who can run their lives reasonably well can continue to do so without all the problems and ill effects that result from a dirty drug.

For those who can't even do that, a cot and daily dole of food yeast on some far away island.

[AZRedhawk44]

I do wonder when the junkies will just start injecting unleaded gasoline directly into their bodies and skip the home depot bucket entirely.  And if I'll then have to go through background checks and get a mechanic's permission slip for each gallon of gas I want to buy.

[lee n. field]

This is exactly why (downward-spiraling inventiveness) the Great War on Drugs will never be won, and Prohibition 2.0 needs to be abandoned.  Sell meth at the customer service counter right next to the Marlboros.

"It's morphine Mr. Suprynowicz.  It's for my Mom."  

(obscure sf-nal reference that AZR might actually get.)

[Sergeant Bob]

Good riddance morons!

[AZRedhawk44]

I have never read that, but I've heard the quote a few times.

I've stumbled onto Stephen King and Peter Straub's Talisman collaboration and it seems tied in with the Dark Tower universe so I'm neck deep on those two books for the moment.  I'll add The American Zone to the list.

[Ben]

Sounds like society wins.

Indeed. This is one of those subjects in which I don't care if I sound callous. Anyone stupid enough to inject such a concoction deserves what they get and really, does the rest of us a favor. I see no reason to try and stop its spread. I consider it a natural IQ test.

[lee n. field]

I have never read that, but I've heard the quote a few times.

A TV ad in American Zone.  My recollection is: Cute little 10 year old Cindy buys a machine pistol and 1K rounds for herself and a pound of morphine for her mom.  Helpful proprietor makes her put back the name brand morphine and pick up a pound bag of the store brand stuff, on sale.

I've stumbled onto Stephen King and Peter Straub's Talisman collaboration and it seems tied in with the Dark Tower universe so I'm neck deep on those two books for the moment.  I'll add The American Zone to the list.

I pooped out on Dark Tower after the third book.

[MillCreek]

Indeed. This is one of those subjects in which I don't care if I sound callous. Anyone stupid enough to inject such a concoction deserves what they get and really, does the rest of us a favor. I see no reason to try and stop its spread. I consider it a natural IQ test.

Except, of course, for the amount of healthcare resources that the users consume on the way down.  That money comes from somewhere.  The hospitals can't throw them out of the emergency room, so either the Feds, the state or the hospital pays for it.

[Ben]

Except, of course, for the amount of healthcare resources that the users consume on the way down.  That money comes from somewhere.  The hospitals can't throw them out of the emergency room, so either the Feds, the state or the hospital pays for it.

True. In my world, people could put whatever they want in their bodies, and live or die, as long as they don't make me (or the public) responsible for them. I'm sure a lot of the people that take this crap have children too, but society trying to save people from themselves has to have some kind of an "enough is enough" line somewhere Both in the war on these drugs, and how much public assistance we want to give to people that harm themselves, versus people that might need help because of something that happened to them through no fault of their own.

[230RN]

Indeed. This is one of those subjects in which I don't care if I sound callous. Anyone stupid enough to inject such a concoction deserves what they get and really, does the rest of us a favor. I see no reason to try and stop its spread. I consider it a natural IQ test.

I'm inclined to nod my head on that one.

Except, of course, for the amount of healthcare resources that the users consume on the way down.  That money comes from somewhere.  The hospitals can't throw them out of the emergency room, so either the Feds, the state or the hospital pays for it.

But I wonder if the additional resources spent on caring for them is offset by the additional costs of enforcing the drug laws.  Let alone the evanescent costs to our freedoms and safety that the Drug War incurs.

That's the same argument people bring up with respect to any new "safety law," like seat belts and motorcycle helmets and the "super-sized soft drink" law that was brought up recently in New York.

I tend to err on the side of personal freedom.

Tough one.

Terry 

[fifth_column]

Not going to link them here, but a google image search on krokodil is very disturbing.

Are the images anything like Cheech and Chong's version?  (About 21 seconds in)

[AJ Dual]

"It's morphine Mr. Suprynowicz.  It's for my Mom."  

(obscure sf-nal reference that AZR might actually get.)

"Shame on you! Go put that back and grab the generic morphine instead, it's just as good and save the money!"

Or something to that effect...  

[Fitz]

I'm inclined to nod my head on that one.

 

But I wonder if the additional resources spent on caring for them is offset by the additional costs of enforcing the drug laws.  Let alone the evanescent costs to our freedoms and safety that the Drug War incurs.

That's the same argument people bring up with respect to any new "safety law," like seat belts and motorcycle helmets and the "super-sized soft drink" law that was brought up recently in New York.

I tend to err on the side of personal freedom.

Tough one.

Terry 

I'm ok with helmet and seat belt laws because, in general, they cost almost nothing to enforce. In fact, they BRING revenue. Additionally, I've yet to see entire federal agencies raised for the purpose of combating the scourge of helmet use. I haven't seen people oppressed in the name of those things.

The War on Drugs however...

[brimic]

Except, of course, for the amount of healthcare resources that the users consume on the way down.  That money comes from somewhere.  The hospitals can't throw them out of the emergency room, so either the Feds, the state or the hospital pays for it.

Like others said, enforement has got to be an enormous cost.
How many addicts can be treated for the cost of a single incarceration?
If one could buy cheap high grade heroine or cocaine at the local grocery store, I doubt we'd see scourges like Meth and 'krokadil.'

[CNYCacher]

Like others said, enforement has got to be an enormous cost.
How many addicts can be treated for the cost of a single incarceration?
If one could buy cheap high grade heroine or cocaine at the local grocery store, I doubt we'd see scourges like Meth and 'krokadil.'

Is Meth even all that bad?  All I know about it I learned from anti-drug PSAs.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

Indeed. This is one of those subjects in which I don't care if I sound callous. Anyone stupid enough to inject such a concoction deserves what they get and really, does the rest of us a favor. I see no reason to try and stop its spread. I consider it a natural IQ test.

and darwin would smile




oh and serious meth?  its that bad