Opioid abuse has gained tremendous attention in recent years due to its severely damaging consequences and widespread presence. In the United States, 130 people die each day as a result of opioid overdose, creating a serious national crisis of unprecedented magnitude. If you struggle with opioid abuse, Granite Recovery Center’s opioids addiction rehab center in New Hampshire can guide you through recovery.
In a treatment capacity, opioids are drugs designed to relieve pain; however, they also carry tremendous potential for addiction. Due to the way opioids interact with brain receptors, they boost feelings of pleasure and satisfaction in the user. This sense of overwhelming reward is the culprit behind users’ intense desire for these drugs. Krokodil, a more recent addition to the United States’ illicit drug scene, falls under the opioid classification. And according to some experts, it may hold the title of the deadliest drug in the world.
What is Krokodil?
Krokodil is an illicit opioid hailing from Russia. There, the active ingredient in the drug, desomorphine, was initially formulated for medical use in 1932. In the early 2000s, Russian addicts began formulating Krokodil by isolating desomorphine from the common cough syrup ingredient, codeine. However, pure desomorphine is not the only ingredient in Krokodil. Users synthesize the drug from a variety of household ingredients, including:
- Paint thinner
- Hydrochloric acid
- Gasoline
- Iodine
- Lighter fluid
- Red phosphorus from matchbook strike pads
Krokodil is approximately 10 times more potent than morphine, leaving users with an incapacitating high, not unlike that produced by heroin. Like many opioids, Krokodil leaves users with feelings of euphoria, relaxation, and sedation.
Deadly Designer Drug
What is Krokodil’s potential for addiction? According to experts, just a single dose of Krokodil can trigger psychological dependence on the drug. While the substance is not yet prevalent in the United States, physicians have gradually observed an increasing number of patients with symptoms of dependence. Due to the highly damaging effects of the drug, addicted individuals typically have a life span of just one to two years without proper addiction treatment.
Krokodil Side Effects
Krokodil, the Russian word for crocodile, aptly describes side effects from the use of the drug. Swelling and pain at the injection site accompany each dose, along with alarming physical side effects, including:
- Bursting blood vessels at the injection site
- Loss of skin and muscle tissue
- Blood clots
- Skin and muscle infections, tissue death
- Black or green scaly skin around the injection site
- Memory loss and speech problems
- Physical and psychological dependence
The drug may also encourage the development of co-occurring health conditions as users fall deeper into addiction. What is Krokodil associated with in terms of health complications? Brain damage, liver damage, kidney failure, meningitis, blood poisoning, and pneumonia have all been connected to Krokodil abuse.
What is Krokodil Treatment Like?
Krokodil addiction requires intensive, inpatient treatment to allow users to break free from the damaging consequences of the drug. At Granite Recovery Centers, we provide a full continuum of care, including the following intensive treatment programs:
- Medical detox center (Granite Recovery Centers provides medical detoxification for people who do not need immediate medical intervention, are not a danger to themselves, and are capable of self-evacuation in the event of an emergency.)
- Intensive residential treatment program
- 12-step program
- Drug rehab aftercare
- Relapse prevention plan
- Sober living homes
The first step in conquering addiction is admittance. The next step is reaching out to a compassionate treatment center that is committed to getting you back on your feet. At Granite Recovery Centers, we offer evidence-based treatments and psychotherapies to teach effective coping and relapse prevention skills to each and every individual we serve.
Reclaim Your Life at Granite Recovery Centers
If you or a loved one struggle with Krokodil or any other opioid abuse, reach out to our compassionate team at Granite Recovery Centers. Don’t let addiction steal another minute of your life. For over 10 years, we’ve been transforming the lives of drug-dependent individuals throughout New England and beyond. When you’re ready to take the first step toward taking back your life, feel free to contact our compassionate team at 855.712.7784 to learn more about your treatment options.
