In recent years, the popularity of a drug cocktail known as pink cocaine, which often contains substances like ketamine, ecstasy, meth, and crack, has surged. Following reports that former One Direction member Liam Payne had pink cocaine in his system at the time of his tragic fall from a hotel balcony in Argentina, there is an increasing demand for heightened awareness regarding the dangers this substance poses to its users.
So, what exactly is pink cocaine? Contrary to its name, pink cocaine typically doesn’t contain any actual cocaine. Its distinctive hue comes from food coloring, and sometimes it incorporates strawberry flavoring. The cocktail generally features a mixture of at least one stimulant and one depressant. Common ingredients include methamphetamine, ketamine—known for its dissociative and hallucinogenic effects—and MDMA (ecstasy), alongside benzodiazepines, crack, and caffeine. Users can take it in pill form or snort it as a powder, though injection is uncommon. It’s primarily associated with the nightlife scene.
What are some of the other names for this drug? It goes by several street names, including tusi or tuci, cocaina rosada, tucibi, pink powder, Eros, and Venus. The name “tusi” is linked to the psychedelic compound 2-CB, which was synthesized by Alexander Shulgin, a key figure in the ecstasy movement. However, current law enforcement sources indicate that 2-CB is rarely found in what’s referred to as pink cocaine today.
Why has pink cocaine made headlines recently? Reports have surfaced stating that Liam Payne had this cocktail in his system when he succumbed to his death in Argentina last week, with partial autopsy results confirming the substance’s presence, according to sources cited by ABC News and TMZ.
What is the experience like for users of pink cocaine? People often turn to this drug in club settings to achieve euphoria and an enhanced sensory experience. The UK Addiction Treatment Centres describe the potential for hallucinations with this drug, noting on their website that “pink cocaine has hallucinogenic properties, differentiating it from the purely stimulant effects of traditional cocaine.” Users frequently report enjoying both euphoric and psychedelic experiences, which can include altered sensory perceptions and mood fluctuations. The treatment centers warn that pink cocaine is particularly easy to overdose on and highlight that prolonged use can lead to serious health issues, including heart attacks, high blood pressure, increased stroke risk, behavioral changes, addiction, chronic anxiety, depression, and psychosis.
Where did pink cocaine originate? It first emerged on the streets of Colombia around 2010 and has since proliferated through the Latin American nightclub scene, particularly in countries like Argentina, Venezuela, Uruguay, Chile, and Panama. Its reach has extended to club-goers in the U.S. and Europe, especially in Spain. A 2022 UN drugs report indicates that instances of pink cocaine have been reported in the UK, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, and Southeast Asia.
