A toxic, flesh-eating street drug known as “Krokodil” is reportedly showing up on Niagara Region Streets.

The two cases of addicts admitting using the drug are believed to be the first time the street drug has been reported in Canada.

News of the drug appearing in Canada is so significant and frightening that the story has been picked up by the Independent newspaper in Britain. It notes that CHCH TV in Hamilton has reporting three cases of the drug in the Niagara Region.

Even by street drug standards, Krokodil is considered ugly.

It’s a toxic blend of household chemicals such as iodine, gasoline, industrial cleaning oil, lighter fluid and paint thinner mixed with codeine.

It was given the street name “Krokodil,” because of the scaly, crocodile-like skin that appears around the injection site.

Niagara Regional Police warn the public to think twice about injecting the potentially fatal heroin substitute.

“It is important we continue to educate about the dangers of drugs like Krokodil to combat making the wrong decisions concerning experimenting with any mind altering substance,” a statement from Niagara Regional police says.

There have been two reported cases of Krokodil use in the region, police say.

There was no report on where the drug is manufactured. But there are fears a market has appeared for it after OxyContin went off the market

“Krokodil is known to be primarily used by heroin addicts that can no longer afford heroin,” the police bulletin states. “Some users of “Krokodil” reported that they thought they were buying and using heroin until they started developing sores.”

The drug, also known as “desomorphine,” is extremely addictive, police warn.

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It first became popular in Russia and Ukraine more than a decade ago.

“It causes brain damage; damage to internal organs and produces severe tissue damage that, at times, requires limb amputations,” Niagara Regional Police say.