Drug task force identifies new drug found in St. Clair County

The St. Clair County Sheriff's Office said it's encountered a new drug with 10 times the potency of morphine.

Desomorphine, also known as "krokodil" or "crocodil," was reportedly found by the St. Clair County Drug Task Force last week. The drug is named for its effect on users, causing their skin to turn green and appear scaly due to damage to blood vessels where it was injected.

The sheriff's office said the drug was found as part of an investigation into cocaine sales in East China Township. The drug task force reportedly found 42 grams of krokodil in a white/brown powder form.

Krokodil is an opioid-like synthetic drug first produced in the 1930s, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. A DEA factsheet last updated in December 2019 on the drug states it's rarely found in the United States and is not approved for any medical use. The sheriff's office said this is the first time it's been found in St. Clair County.

The news release warns use of krokodil can cause severe tissue damage, eventually causing blood clots to form in the blood vessel and/or gangrene, which can be fatal or result in a limb needing to be amputated. Similar to fentanyl, the drug is often sold as an alternative to heroin due to its high potency and ease of production as a synthetic drug.

The sheriff's office also warns that Naloxone, medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, may not work to reverse an overdose on krokodil due to its synthetic nature. In the event of an overdose on krokodil or any other drug, the sheriff's office says it's still important to go to the hospital even if the overdose is reversed by Naloxone.

“The Drug Task Force adapts with the everchanging climate of drugs within the community, and this is no exception," St. Clair County Sheriff Mat King said in the news release. "Members are constantly educating themselves on new drug trends and are committed to educating the community to keep citizens safe. They are doing everything they can do eliminate all sources of Desomorphine, just as in all other illegal controlled substances."

Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com.