Pink cocaine, a drug cocktail that may contain ketamine, MDMA, and methamphetamine, has been increasingly discovered in recent years.
What You Need to Know About Pink Cocaine
Contrary to its name, pink cocaine typically does not contain cocaine but is a mixture of various drugs. The pink color of this substance often comes from food coloring or sometimes strawberry flavoring. The components of pink cocaine usually include at least one stimulant and one depressant, according to Guardian.
The most common compounds are methamphetamine (crystal meth), MDMA (ecstasy), ketamine (a hallucinogen that distorts perception), as well as benzodiazepines, crack cocaine, and caffeine.
Pink cocaine is often formulated into pills or ground into powder. This drug is rarely used for injection.
“The mixture is often very cheap, which attracts users,” Dr. Linda Cottler, an epidemiologist specializing in drug abuse at the University of Florida, told New York Times.
Pink cocaine is a dangerous drug that has received a lot of attention recently. (Image: Loop).
What Are the Other Names for Pink Cocaine?
Other names for pink cocaine include tusi/tuci, cocaina rosada, tucibi, pink powder, Eros, and Venus. The term “tusi” originates from the hallucinogenic compound 2-CB, first introduced by the “father of ecstasy” Alexander Shulgin. However, 2-CB is now rarely found in pink cocaine, according to law enforcement.
“Chemists operating outside the law often try to come up with concoctions they think people will like,” Dr. David E. Nichols, a pharmacologist at Purdue University, stated. “Only God knows what the effects will be.”
Where Does Pink Cocaine Come From?
Pink cocaine first appeared on the streets of Colombia around 2010 before spreading to nightclubs in other South American countries such as Argentina, Venezuela, Uruguay, Chile, and Panama, according to Vice. Pink cocaine has also gradually gained popularity in the U.S. and Europe, particularly in Spain. According to a 2022 United Nations drug report, the UK, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, and Southeast Asia have also reported cases of pink cocaine.
In the U.S., pink cocaine is also becoming more widespread. In September, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reported that pink cocaine is being distributed more widely, primarily sold online and through social media. In this year’s national drug threat assessment, the DEA also noted that the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico is ramping up the production and trafficking of pink cocaine.
How Does Pink Cocaine Affect the Body?
Some people use pink cocaine in nightclubs to enhance their feelings of euphoria. The UK Addiction Treatment Center (UKAT) states that this drug can induce hallucinations, differing from the purely stimulating effects of traditional cocaine. Users of pink cocaine report experiencing both excitement and hallucinations – including altered sensory perceptions and mood fluctuations.
“When compared to other stimulants like methamphetamine or synthetic drugs like ecstasy (MDMA), pink cocaine provides a unique combination of stimulant and hallucinogenic effects,” UKAT wrote on their website.
Pink cocaine users are relatively prone to overdose, UKAT adds. With prolonged use, pink cocaine can also lead to heart attacks, high blood pressure, increased risk of stroke, as well as behavioral changes, addiction, persistent anxiety, depression, and psychosis.
According to Bridget Brennan, a prosecutor specializing in drug cases in New York City, pink cocaine can also act as a sedative and has been found in some date rape cases.
“It can be mixed with anything,” Ms. Brennan said. “It can take people to a feeling similar to being in a void, disconnected from their bodies, disconnected from their minds, and unaware of what is happening.”
According to Dr. Cottler at the University of Florida, pink cocaine is one of the most dangerous drugs because both sellers and users rarely know what is actually inside it.
“Just one drug dealer mixing fentanyl into a batch of pink cocaine can poison many people,” warned Joseph Palamar, an expert at NYU Langone Health.
