What is Pink Cocaine?

"One Fact, One Act" is a weekly newsletter that highlights one scientific fact that everyone needs to know, and one act or action anyone can take to prevent or change unhealthy alcohol or other substance use.

One Fact

The recent and tragic death of One Direction singer Liam Payne has brought “pink cocaine” into the headlines, as the drug was found in his system and has been purportedly linked with his death.

Despite its name, pink cocaine typically does not contain cocaine, but rather is a mix of drugs, which can include ketamine, MDMA, methamphetamine, and opioids. If you’re not familiar with some of the substances on this list, here’s a brief description of each:

• Ketamine is an anesthetic used in both in humans and in veterinary practice. At high doses, it can lead to euphoria or intense pleasure, as well as a dreamlike state or out of body experience. It has grown in popularity globally as a “party drug” and is now one of the most common addictive drugs that is used in Asia.

• Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant drug with long lasting and powerful effects on the central nervous system. It leads to euphoria, increased activity, and reduced appetite.

• MDMA, also known as “Molly,” or Ecstasy, is a lab-made (synthetic) drug that has effects similar to methamphetamine. Its effects include feeling more alert, warm and open to others, though it can also have unpleasant and potentially dangerous health impacts.

• Opioids are a class of drugs that include prescription pain relieving drugs such as codeine and morphine, synthetic opioids like fentanyl, the illegal drug, heroin, and many others.

What do we know about pink cocaine?

The drug concoction known as “pink cocaine” is actually called Tusi. It emerged initially in Latin America and Europe around 2020 and is now becoming popular in the United States. Here’s what we know so far:

• Tusi almost always comes in the form of a pink powder, and sometimes smells sweet

• It is relatively inexpensive, at $10 per gram

• Almost all tested samples of Tusi contain ketamine as the main ingredient, and MDMA is very commonly a component as well

• Research conducted in Latin America found that the majority of those who used Tusi were young adults between ages 18-29 and over 60% were using it once a month or more often. U.S. based studies are needed but have yet to be conducted.

One Act

Here are some things to keep in mind and share with others about Tusi or pink cocaine:

• The documented effects of tusi include euphoria, sedation, dizziness, vomiting, blacking out, and loss of consciousness

• Tusi can create an illusion of “safety” for various reasons. Since it’s pink and sweet smelling, people who are exposed to it might think it’s just a new and benign drug. It can also be confused with cocaine given its name, even though it rarely contains cocaine.

• The effects of tusi are unpredictable. Since batches of tusi fluctuate widely as far as which drugs and how much of them are mixed in, it is impossible to know how a person will react to it. People who use tusi often do so in a party or club scene where other substances are readily available, leading to further unintended combinations of drugs in their body.

• Fentanyl precursors have appeared in tusi. This has raised concerns that fentanyl will be mixed in with tusi, increasing the risk of overdose and death.  

You can learn more about commonly used drugs and their effects on the brain and body in my recently released book, Addiction: What Everyone Needs to Know, which you can find here. Make sure to also check out my newly launched podcast here!  

Dr. Suzette Glasner
Dr. Glasner's research focuses on making evidence-based treatments for addiction more accessible using digital health platforms. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA.