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Police In Summit County Concerned About Drug 'Krokodil'

DILLON, Colo. (CBS4) - A potentially-deadly street drug known as "Krokodil" has made its way into Colorado's high country.

Dillon Interim Police Chief Brian Brady told his town council this week that his department has seen several incidents of people using the heroin-like drug that can cause deadly gangrene infections that rot the skin from the inside out.

The Summit Daily reported that Brady said there may be a tie between the legalization of marijuana and the emergence of the drug.

"I'm not necessarily opposed to (retail marijuana), but when people want a bigger high they tend to mix it with something," Brady said.

The cheap drug, also known as Desomorphine, is essentially home-made heroin, using among other things, codeine mixed with gasoline or paint thinner. It is usually injected.

CBS4 sister station WBBM reported that the life expectancy of a Krokodil addict is only two years. It became popular in Russia because of a heroin shortage, and cases have popped up in several U.S. states.

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