JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – When many people hear crocodile, they think of a four-legged reptile. But for others, krokodil -- with a K -- is a deadly drug that makes users’ skin resemble the animal it’s named after.
Krokodil isn’t highly prevalent in the United States. It originated in eastern European countries like Russia.
Experts said it’s a drug people make themselves by mixing prescription drugs with common household items.
On Monday, an escaped inmate died while in Jacksonville police custody after telling investigators she had taken drugs, including krokodil, earlier that day.
For many of us, it was the first time hearing about a drug called krokodil, but a quick search online brings up plenty of graphic images of the so-called zombie drug.
"The scary part about krokodil is that when you inject that into the vein, it can distribute into the soft tissue, and it can kill the soft tissue like a flesh-eating bacteria," Dr. Amit Vijapura said.
Vijapura, who has been treating addiction for 15 years, said krokodil is an opioid, like heroin. He said many people turn to the drug because it’s 10 times as potent at a fraction of the price.
"We are extremely concerned and scared because of the heroin addiction going on in the community, which has increased tremendously in the last two years," Vijapura said. "We think that more and more people will turn to drugs like krokodil."
Vijapura said the high lasts up to two hours, and the drug only takes 30 minutes to make.
Dr. Dawn Sollee with the Poison Information Center in Jacksonville said the main ingredient in krokodil is codene, which is found in many prescription pain and cough medications.
"What they would do is they would obtain a product that contains some codeine and then start several different chemical reactions that include anything, like paint thinner and gasoline, white phosphorous, iodine ..." Sollee said.
Sollee said no cases have been reported in Florida, but her office is keeping its eye out for the potentially deadly drug.
Those who have issues with krokodil or may be concerned for someone who might be involved with the drug, call Poison Control at 800-222-1222.