A DRUG that can cause severe skin problems has hit Taunton's streets. 

Taunton Deane Borough Council's housing options manager Heather Stewart confirmed in a meeting last night that the new drug, known as Krokodil, is causing problems within the town. 

The drug use is contributing to the growing homelessness problem within the town.

Miss Stewart said: "The rise in the use of legal highs in the area, ie. Spice and Krokodil is resulting in our providers evicting single clients who, in the past, they could have worked with but the effects of the drugs are so severe that their behaviour is untenable in hostels." 

According to Drugs.com, Desomorphine, known by the street name krokodil, is an opioid derivative of codeine.

Like heroin and other opioids, it has a sedative and analgesic effect, is highly addictive, and potentially harmful. 

Krokodil is presumed to contain desomorphine, but due to illicit, home-based, manufacturing, it may contain other unknown ingredients, or in fact, no desomorphine at all.

The analgesic effect of desomorphine is about ten times greater than morphine and three times more toxic. 

Side effects of using the drug can cause severe skin problems as the flesh rots away. 

Reported health hazards due to Krokodil injection use:

  • Blood vessel damage
  • Open ulcers, gangrene, phlebitis
  • Skin and soft tissue infections
  • Skin grafts/surgery
  • Limb amputations
  • Pneumonia
  • Blood poisoning
  • Meningitis
  • Rotting gums/tooth loss
  • Blood-borne virus transmission (HIV/HCV due to needle sharing)
  • Bone infections (osteomyelitis)
  • Speech and motor skills impairment
  • Memory loss and impaired concentration
  • Liver and kidney damage
  • Overdose
  • Death