Desomorphine is an opioid that has gained attention because of low-quality black market synthesis in Russia, where it began being sold as "krokodil" in 2010. Synthesized from codeine (using iodine and red phosphorous, in a process similar to that used for street methamphetamine) the final street product is often contaminated with corrrosive, toxic chemicals. Heavy opioid users who inject street desomorphine can experience serious medical problems. News reports sometimes refer to desomorphine as "flesh eating" because of these problems.