Flesh-Eating Drug ‘Krokodil’ Found In Arizona, Makes Skin Turn Greenish, Scaly And Eventually Rot Away [VIDEO]

A flesh-eating drug has made its way into the U.S. and the medical community is alarmed about the possibility of it becoming mainstream. The drug, which is a homemade substitute for heroin, is called “Krokodil” or “crocodile” and it first surfaced in Russia more than a decade ago. It got its name because of the hidden threat it contains. 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.

Formally, the drug is called desomorphine and is a major problem in Russia where just two years ago, 65 million doses of the drug were seized by police. Toxicologists here in the U.S. are investigating the first possible cases of Krokodil users since two people were hospitalized in the past week in the Phoenix area exhibiting symptoms consistent with the side effects of the drug. Dr. Frank LoVecchio, the co-medical director at Banner Good Samaritan Poison and Drug Information Center confirmed the cases and reportedly fears the use of the drug in the U.S. because the damage it inflicts is so severe.

"As far as I know, these are the first cases in the United States that are reported. So we're extremely frightened," he told CBS 5. "They extract [the drug] and even though they believe that most of the oil and gasoline is gone, there is still remnants of it. You can imagine just injecting a little bit of it into your veins can cause a lot of damage," he said. "When [drug users] do it repeatedly, the skin sloughs. It causes hardening of their skin. It will cause necrosis," explained LoVecchio. "Where there is smoke there is fire, and we're afraid there are going to be more and more cases."

In Russia, there are as many as one million addicts who use the drug regularly because it is a cheap alternative to heroin. According to a Time magazine investigation, even those who manage to quit their addiction come away disfigured for life. “Gangrene and amputations are a common result, while porous bone tissue, especially in the lower jaw, often starts to dissipate, eaten up by the drug’s acidity.” The Daily Mail reports that some users in Russia develop brain damage and speech impediments in addition to the horrific scars.