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Tracking the spread of krokodil

We’re bringing you more on the drug known as krokodil. As we first told you last week, Niagara police began warning the public after two cases were reported in the region. However they say those cases have not been medically confirmed. But there’s a lot of interest in this dangerous and deadly drug with word that it has possibly hit Canadian streets for the first time. Kate Carnegie has the story.
The focus has now turned to education. Police, Medical officials and even the Canadian government are trying to get as much information on krokodil as possible. The reason it’s so hard to medically confirm is because symptoms can be mistaken with the complications that long term users of injectable drugs experience. But even though the drug may not be common, there is another one in Hamilton that’s proving to be just as dangerous.
This is what krokodil can do. It was these disturbing pictures out of Russia and word that it had reached Niagara that got people talking.
Tammy Francoeur is a Turning Point Rehabilitation Co-founder: “We are just starting to hear about it just like we did with the bath salts, so I think education is key.”
As questions continue to pour in, Francoeur decided to post information on the Habitude Addiction Program’s Facebook page: “Knowledge is power. If people can learn more about the drug and if they can even get the information to the streets, people can be a little bit more cautious.”
Krokodil is made from codeine and substances like gasoline, paint thinner or lighter fluid. The average life expectancy for a krokodil addict is less than two years.
It can cause flesh and tissue to rot. We have blurred these pictures because they are just to graphic to show.
So far, the Niagara region is the only area to report possible krokodil use. It hasn’t been seen in Hamilton, Halton or Toronto. But there is a drug that’s just as dangerous on Hamilton streets. Cocaine laced with a vetrinary drug called levamisole is being sold.
Dr. Jas Dhillon is at the John Street clinic: “Dealers are adding it in to make up the volume of cocaine and that can cause very serious problems including skin necrosis very similar to what you would see with krokodil.”
Medical officials are aware of this drug and say they are also prepared to treat addicts who use krokodil. The typical user is someone who is highly addicted to heroin.
“I think it’s a cheap version to help replace the oxy that was replaced by the heroine that is no replaced by this krokodil.”
Yvon was an opiate addict for 15 years. He says he’s not surprised a drug like krokodil is available because there are people who will buy it: “Once some stuff stops working you usually switch to something else and sometimes something else we don’t know what it is and it can be pretty scary and lead to death.”
So while all eyes are on the Niagara region for sightings of krokodil…Tammy Francoeur says it could pop up anywhere: “I am not sure it’s going to get here faster than other areas. But it will eventually get here just like any drug it will surface.”
Tammy did say that she doesn’t think Hamilton will be the next city to see krokodil. She says every area has its prominent drug. In Hamilton it’s cocaine, crack. She thinks Niagara Falls is likely to see it first because there are more people using heroin there. She even said it’s likely to hit Burlington and Toronto before Hamilton.
I also contacted Health Canada who says it is aware of krokodil. The agency says their drug analysis service has not received any samples that have been identified as containing the drug.