Pink cocaine has been on international law enforcement’s radar for years but started making headlines more recently due to some high-profile celebrity cases, including the tragic death of former One Direction singer Liam Payne. Unfortunately, the dangerous drug cocktail is becoming more prevalent in the United States.
What is pink cocaine, exactly? The name can be misleading. While the substance is indeed pink, it isn't cocaine at all. We’ll go over what the drug is, where it comes from, and how to stay safe below.
What is pink cocaine?
Pink cocaine, also referred to as tusi, is a powdery mix of diverse substances—and cocaine usually isn’t one of them. Common combinations include:
The powder is dyed pink and often has a sweet smell. The dye, usually colored baking powder or food dye, distinguishes the powder from other substances, like methamphetamines.
How the pink cocaine drug is made
Pink cocaine is named after the synthetic compound 2C-B—hence the name “tusi”—which was synthesized by drug pioneer Alexander Shulgin in a California lab in the 1970s. However, modern pink cocaine rarely contains this original compound.
When SC-B became more difficult to obtain, underground chemists had to come up with an alternative. As a result, the drug cocktails currently on the market were developed.
Since there are many variations of pink cocaine, it's impossible to know exactly what's in the substance. Only lab testing can definitively confirm what the pink powder is composed of. This makes the pink cocaine drug particularly dangerous: Every batch has a different composition, there is no way of predicting how the body will react.
Effects of pink cocaine
Most pink cocaine mixtures contain at least one stimulant and one depressant drug. This mix of "uppers" and "downers," known colloquially as a "speedball," can be particularly dangerous. These substances have opposing effects on the body—for example, one drug can speed up your heart rate while another is trying to slow it down.
The effects of pink cocaine vary according to the batch’s contents. One common ingredient, ketamine, has hallucinogenic effects, for example. Other possible effects include:
- Increased heart rate
- Heightened sensory awareness
- Feelings of excitement or happiness
- A sense of dissociation
- Lack of awareness of what's going on/a person's surroundings
In some cases, the concoction can even cause amnesia. That said, it's truly impossible to predict the effect pink cocaine will have without knowing exactly what is in it. In addition to the chemical makeup, other factors that impact the effect of the drug include:
- A person's existing drug tolerance
- How much the person takes
- How an individual's body reacts to the individual components
- Whether the drug is taken with other substances, like alcohol or other drugs
These factors can also influence how long a person feels the effects of pink cocaine. The strongest impact may be felt within the first three hours of ingestion, but effects can be felt for up to eight hours.
The emergence of pink cocaine drugs in the U.S.
According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), pink cocaine is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. club scene. European drug enforcement agencies were already seeing an uptick in the substance's prevalence in 2022. Meanwhile, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime warned about liquid versions of the drug appearing in Latin America and Thailand, with names like "happy water."
Now, the drug is being marketed as something "new" in the U.S. club scene. The novelty alone may be one reason for its popularity. Another reason is the fact that the drug is relatively cheap.
As of fall 2024, the DEA has reported a greater distribution of pink cocaine in the U.S. According to the DEA, Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel is increasingly manufacturing and trafficking the drug cocktail. However, it's also often sold online or through social media.
Pink cocaine drug in the news
The attention around pink cocaine has also been growing as a result of some recent celebrity cases. In September 2024, music producer Sean Combs was arrested. Upon his arrest, law enforcement found pink powder in his hotel room. A lawsuit filed against Combs further alleges that he often had pink cocaine on hand when traveling.
Some media reports have also suggested that One Direction singer Liam Payne had pink cocaine in his system when he died following a fall from his hotel room balcony in Argentina. Although Payne's direct cause of death appears to be from the fall, not from the drug itself, the tragic story nonetheless speaks to the dangers of illicit drug use.
Meanwhile, in August 2024, Instagram influencer Maecee Marie Lathers admitted to having taken pink cocaine before crashing her car. Lathers hit two other vehicles in the incident, which took place in Miami, FL, and caused the deaths of two people.
Avoiding the hazards of pink cocaine
Although pink cocaine is not considered as addictive as some drugs, like fentanyl, it can still be extremely hazardous—even life-threatening. There is also a risk of addiction. Other potential long-term issues include an increased risk of stroke, heart problems, and behavioral changes.
In another worrying trend, there have been reports of pink cocaine being linked to date rape cases. Raising awareness about these threats, as well as the dangers of the pink cocaine drug itself, is essential to effective harm reduction.
In case of a suspected pink cocaine exposure or overdose, it's important to call emergency services. Since there's no way of knowing exactly what was in the drug that was taken, professional help is critical. It’s important to consult an expert in cases of likely exposure or overdose.
Responding to emerging research to provide better care
The world of designer drugs is constantly changing, so public health experts need to stay on top of reports and ensure clinicians, patients, and their communities are aware of the hazards. For clinicians and patients, the presence of new drugs can bring new challenges and mean updating their treatment plans to keep everyone safe.
Ophelia combines active research with gold-standard care for opioid use disorder (OUD). Our unique online approach allows people to access medications for addiction treatment (MAT) from the comfort of home. We make sure patients can access Suboxone® other buprenorphine medications as needed (important safety information) and take a responsive, non-punitive approach to setting benchmarks and tailoring individual treatments. Our goal? To empower and inform patients as they leave opioid addiction behind.
Find out if you’re a candidate for Ophelia’s telehealth OUD treatment.
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