Mexico confirms Krokodil flesh-eating drug case in US patient

MEXICO CITY – Health authorities in Mexico say they have detected a case of flesh lesions caused by a homemade drug called Krokodil, often referred to as "the poor man's heroin."

The Jalisco state council on addictions says the 17-year-old woman is a resident of Houston, Texas, where she told authorities she used the drug. Her condition, which involved severe lesions in the genital area, was discovered when she sought medical care during a visit to Mexico.

Council head Dr. Enrico Sotelo said Thursday she acquired the addiction to the drug in the United States, and was apparently being treated for it there.

The drug is called "krokodil" in Russia because of greenish, scaly skin lesions addicts develop, giving their skin a crocodile-like appearance.

Sotelo didn't release the woman's name or current condition.