Curb the Krokodil !

Few days back, I stumbled across something really disturbing, or more distressing perhaps, given the plight of a once great nation that had mostly just great examples of almost everything to look up to - Russia. 

When I refer to Russia as a great country, that produced many bright and successful engineers, scientists, sportspersons etc., I'm referring to all the Soviet nations in general, largely because most people associate Russia more with USSR than any other country (though not meant to offend the other nations).

Anyways, so it was shocking to me when I found out about this street drug called 'Krokodil' that's taking the toll of millions in Russia. Krokodil or desomorphine, most lucrative to and used by people living in the lower strata of the society, is mostly home cooked off headache tablets and the likes easily purchased at the Chemist without a prescription. So what's drawing more and more people to use it? Well, it's supposed to be about 8 times stronger than Heroin and about 1/10th the price!! And also because it's a home preparation and not a drug that's sold in the market per say, it's even more accessible !!

This drug however is highly toxic and very difficult to wean one off, leaving addicts only about 2 years of life expectancy. It literally eats through the flesh of the addict until it falls off. The few pictures I managed to find were pretty ghastly and stomach turning !

Russia has fallen prey to this epidemic and the nation doesn't seem to be taking enough measures to curb the widespread and ever increasing usage. Some say the its country's indifferent attitude towards junkies' treatment. But then there is also a financial motive for the pharmaceutical industry which is probably benefitting the most from the sudden hike in sales of codeine based tablets.

Report says more and more such forms of drugs are hitting the Russian streets making drug addiction a serious concern and factor of deaths in Russia.

It was really sad to learn all this; and come to think, most people outside of Russia are totally unawares to this situation.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/krokodil-the-drug-that-eats-junkies-2300787.html

Click the link enclosed to read more in detail !

Peace,

$ur