Flesh-Eating 'Krokodil' Drug Possibly Detected in NH

“Krokodil,” a flesh-eating drug that has gained infamy in Russia, may have made its way to New Hampshire.

A man who overdosed in Manchester last week told first responders he believed he took the drug, according to WMUR. Police in that city couldn’t immediately confirm it was actually krokodil.

A first responder told WMUR the sight of the man “turns the stomach.”

Krokodil is similar to heroin and can rot flesh. Its possible sighting comes as New Hampshire and states across the country fight an opioid epidemic. Gov. Maggie Hassan earlier this year declared opioid abuse “one of the most most pressing public health and safety challenges facing our state.”

While it krokodil been reported in Russia, there is debate as to whether it has spread in the United States.

There have been reports of the drug showing up in Arizona and Colorado, but Forbes reported tests have been unable to confirm the substances are indeed krokodil, which is the nickname for desomorphine, a morphine derivative.

Photo credit: Shutterstock