Krokodile has been around for years, not necessarily here in the US though. I believe it originated in Russia. Why anyone would do that to themselves is beyond me. Pictures I've seen of the aftermath of that drug are horrific.

Heroin use is on the rise because it's cheaper on the black market than the opiate pain killers (made from the same drugs as heroin) the doctors are prescribing (as foxtrot stated) to people like candy. I've known several people who are addicted, and my mom, who is a counselor and an addiction specialist, sees it everyday. Doctors are making the lousy excuse that they weren't told the addictive nature of the pain killers by the manufacturers of said drugs.