Commission asked about action on drug "krokodil" - Eurad

Source: European Parliament Register

Subject: Increasing availability of synthetic drugs

Date published: July 23 2012

Please note that the question should be answered within 8 weeks:

Question for written answer to the European Commission Oreste Rossi (EFD)

Subject: Increasing availability of synthetic drugs

A wide range of drugs are available on the streets, some of which are completely new and have yet to come within the reach of the law. One such drug, despite having been shown to be capable of killing regular users within the space of a year, is being used in place of heroin, supplies of which are being diverted to markets outsideEurope. The use of synthetic drugs is becoming increasingly common, and, owing to the steady steam of new drugs appearing on the market, drug monitoring agencies are finding it difficult to identify and outlaw them.

A drug known as ‘krokodil’, which is based on the synthetic opiate desomorphine, has appeared on the streets in Russia. This is a drug that is so deadly that it can kill regular users within the space of a year. Desomorphine has an analgesic effect that is 10 times more potent than that of morphine. It is also relatively easy to synthesise from codeine, and codeine tablets are available over-the-counter in pharmacies. This home-made street drug is highly impure and contaminated with various toxic and corrosive by-products. As soon as it has been ‘cooked up’, this toxic mix of substances is injected intravenously with little or no further purification, and can cause severe tissue damage, sometimes requiring limb amputation in long-term users.

It is extremely difficult to combat the spread of these ‘low-cost’ drugs, as they are easy to obtain and, above all, easy to make, using various chemicals to create cocktails which can have devastating effects on the health of regular users.

Given that synthetic drugs are becoming increasingly common inEurope, does the Commission intend to look into the matter and to take steps to stem the use of such drugs?