What Is Pink Cocaine? The Dark Reality behind a Colorful Name

Abstract

In recent months, a synthetic drug commonly referred to as “pink cocaine” has captured headlines, with notable public figures reportedly linked to its hidden dangers. (1,2) Public fascination with what appears to be a new and mysterious “designer” drug has spurred a slew of media attention. The reality is that pink cocaine is neither a new drug nor cocaine; rather, it’s an inconsistent and unpredictable formulation of existing drugs and adulterants─primarily ketamine and MDMA─branded with a distinctive rosy hue. This deceptive tactic, designed to lure and entice a new wave of recreational drug users, has little regard for the serious health risks posed by the complex and dangerous interactions among its components. Pink cocaine is an older phenomenon than the recent headlines suggest. It has been circulating in Colombia, where it is more commonly known as “tusi” or “tusibi”, since the late 2000s, with the earliest reports dating back to 2012. (3) The nicknames “tusibi” and the shortened “tusi” derive from a phonetic translation of “2C-B”, a hallucinogenic phenethylamine first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin in 1974. (4) Known to induce euphoria and hallucinations reportedly similar to a blend of MDMA and LSD, 2C-B belongs to the broader “2C-X family” of drugs (psychedelic phenethylamines containing 2,5-dimethoxy substitution) and was widely popular in the European rave and party scenes in the 1990s. In the late 2000s, 2C-B surfaced in Colombia’s vibrant nightlife, where its reputation as a “designer” drug began to solidify. The signature pink hue was introduced as a way to mask the unpleasant and harsh taste of 2C-B when consumed, the food coloring and aromatic additives transforming the drug into a visually enticing and instantly recognizable powder. The drug’s evolution to the pink cocaine product of today was driven by the surge in demand for 2C-B in the Colombian market. As supply chains struggled to keep up, dealers began cutting 2C-B with more accessible and cheaper psychoactive substances to mimic its stimulant and hallucinogenic effects. (5) Eventually, 2C-B disappeared from the formulation altogether, giving way to the current iterations of pink cocaine. Recently, law enforcement agencies and drug-checking services have reported an uptick in pink cocaine’s presence beyond Latin America, particularly in Europe and North America. (6,7) In the United States, pink cocaine has slowly gained popularity within the club scenes in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. In 2023, multiple large-scale seizures in the U.S. further underscored its growing popularity. The primary danger of pink cocaine lies in the unknown. Not only is the name itself misleading, giving the illusion of a stimulant akin to cocaine, but the user is completely unaware of the cocktail of substances hidden beneath its appealing pink shade. Aside from the pink food coloring, little about this drug is consistent. Each batch varies widely in composition and potency, exposing users to a risky blend of substances with unpredictable polypharmacology and drug–drug interactions. While the exact amounts and ratios of its ingredients are uncertain, drug-checking studies across the globe have frequently revealed ketamine and MDMA as the primary components, often bulked with caffeine and other adulterants to increase volume. (6) An analysis from the Erowid Center’s anonymous drug-testing program, DrugsData.org, shows that of the 68 samples submitted between 2016 and 2024 under labels “pink cocaine”, “tusi”, or “2C-B”, 94% contained ketamine (64 samples) and 81% contained MDMA (52 samples) (Figure 1). (8) Particularly concerning is the wide variety of additional adulterants also detected across these samples, including amphetamines, opioids, and tranquilizers. Given the widespread contamination of other illicit drugs with fentanyl, it may only be a matter of time before it or similarly potent opioids also find their way into batches of pink cocaine. Figure 1. Contents of the 68 sample submissions labeled as tusi/2C-B/pink cocaine to DrugsData between 2016 and 2024. (8) Ketamine precursor A = 1-[(2-chlorophenyl)(methylimino)methyl]cyclopentanol; MDMA = 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; MDA = 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; bk-EBDB = β-keto-1,3-benzodioxolyl-N-ethylbutanamine (eutylone); DMT = N,N-dimethyltryptamine. Furthermore, in a closer look at 10 samples submitted between 2023 and 2024, ketamine was the dominant component, making up to approximately 40–90% of each sample, followed by MDMA in an approximately 10–45% concentration (Figure 2). Figure 2. Percentage of drugs detected within the 10 tusi/2C-B/pink cocaine submissions to DrugsData between 2023 and 2024. (8) When users are not aware of the strength, contents, or potential effects of what they are consuming, they are at significant risk for acute toxicity, misadventure, and overdose. For example, at low recreational doses (∼60 mg), ketamine might produce sensations of lightness, relaxation, and mild intoxication. (9) However, at higher doses, ketamine’s effects intensify, often leading to profound psychedelic experiences, pronounced dissociation, and significant loss of motor control. A high enough dose can produce a state known as a “K-hole”, where users may feel entirely detached from their body and surroundings. (10) Given this, a person who consumes a batch of pink cocaine that has a particularly high ketamine content can unintentionally find themself in an extremely disorienting and frightening dissociative state which can trigger dangerous levels of anxiety or panic. This state also poses a serious risk of physical harm, as users may lose the ability to protect themselves from falls and other dangerous situations. The complex and often unpredictable interactions between the cocktail of substances found in pink cocaine must be emphasized, as this can lead to amplified and synergistic effects beyond what each drug might cause on its own. Selected components found in pink cocaine and their properties and risks are highlighted in Table 1. This risk is further compounded by the prevalence of poly-drug use in recreational settings, where users often mix other substances including alcohol, potentially leading to larger than expected doses and dangerous combinations. (21) Particularly concerning is the mixing of ketamine with other central nervous system depressants such as opioids, which can cause unintended oversedation and potentially life-threatening respiratory depression, especially in people with pre-existing respiratory conditions. (22) Indeed, a significant number of reported ketamine-related deaths have involved this dangerous combination. (22) On the other hand, the simultaneous use of depressants and stimulants, such as ketamine with MDMA, can create a dangerous physiological state where the stimulant effects of one drug can mask the sedative effects of the other. This can make it difficult for users to gauge their level of intoxication and lead to the consumption of higher than intended doses, increasing the risk of overdose. Given pink cocaine’s rising prevalence in the public and the media, swift action is essential to protect people who are unaware of its dangers. Users may mistakenly believe they can predict the drug’s effects, despite having little knowledge of what substances and doses they’re consuming. While increased education and awareness are critical harm reduction strategies, other measures such as expanding access to reliable drug-testing kits and services could further empower individuals to make safer and more informed choices in this high-risk environment. Although the use of unregulated substances will always carry inherent dangers, these measures can mitigate the risks posed by pink cocaine (and other recreational drugs). Until pink cocaine loses its appeal and fades from popularity, prioritizing education and awareness remains key to safeguarding the public from its allure and hazards. We thank Paige Poppe for the design of the main graphic. This article references 22 other publications. This article has not yet been cited by other publications.