Prohibition Creates Monsters, Is there Krokodil in Mexico?

Abstract

Background: In the former Soviet Union, as a consequence of controlling the entry of opium, injection drug users (IDUs) produced a home-made drug, from the desmorfina obtained of syrups for cough and cold, iodine and phosphorus; cooked with solvents such as petrol and paint thinner. It is an extremely corrosive drug. Krokodil or crocodile is called so, as a result of skin lesions leading to cell necrosis, gangrene and bone lesions. Methods: This research was based on two stays of fieldwork in the city of Tijuana, Mexico. 40 open - semi-structured interviews were conducted to 20 IDUs, 10 activists and 10 decision-makers from the Ministry of Health. Results: There is no evidence of the use of krokodil in Tijuana. The skin lesions that IDUs have, come from unhygienic practices, incompetence and lack of knowledge about suitable areas to apply the drug. The most harmful drug used in Tijuana is heroin with meth (speed). Conclusion: Prohibitionist policies have led IDUs to create extremely corrosive drugs like krokodil that takes users to a life expectancy of 2 to 3 years. In the city of Tijuana there is no evidence that krokodil is being used, perhaps because Mexico have access to opium and its derivatives.

 

Keywords: Injection drug users, IDUs, Krokodil, Prohibitionist policies, fieldwork.