Pink cocaine, also known as “tusi” or “tucibi,” is a potent and unpredictable drug cocktail that has gained popularity on the club scene in recent years. Despite its name, pink cocaine often doesn’t contain cocaine at all. Instead, it is a mixture of various substances, which typically include stimulants like methamphetamine and MDMA (ecstasy), as well as depressants like ketamine and benzodiazepines. The mixture’s pink color comes from added food dye, and it is sometimes flavored to mask its harsh chemical taste.

Why is pink cocaine in the news?

The drug has recently made headlines due to reports that former One Direction singer Liam Payne had pink cocaine in his system at the time of his death. Payne tragically fell from a hotel balcony in Argentina, and early reports from sources such as ABC News and TMZ indicate that a preliminary autopsy found traces of the drug in his system.

The drug also raised concerns as it was connected to Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ name earlier this year in a lawsuit.

Effects and dangers

Pink cocaine is primarily used by partygoers to enhance sensory experiences and induce feelings of euphoria, often leading to hallucinations and altered mood states. However, its unpredictable mix of substances makes it particularly dangerous. It is easy to overdose on this cocaine, and long-term use can result in severe health problems, including heart attacks, high blood pressure, strokes, addiction, and mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and psychosis.

Global spread

First appearing in Colombia around 2010, pink cocaine has since spread through the Latin American club scene and gained popularity in other parts of the world, including Europe, the US, and Canada. Its growing availability and appeal to clubbers have raised concerns about its potential for widespread harm, especially given the difficulty in regulating its variable and dangerous contents.

As awareness of cocaine’s risks grows, so too does the urgency to address its use and protect vulnerable populations from its lethal potential.