What Is Pink Cocaine? The New Designer Drug Linked to Liam Payne's Death

Key TakeawaysPink cocaine is an unpredictable party drug mix often containing ketamine, MDMA, and other substances, but it rarely contains actual cocaine.Due to batch-to-batch variability, users can’t predict their reactions to pink cocaine, which may cause severe physical and mental effects.Long-term or mixed use of pink cocaine can lead to serious health risks, including stroke, heart issues, and potential seizures.America’s Poison Centers recently issued awarningabout “pink cocaine,” a dangerous party drug mix gaining popularity in U.S. nightclubs.The drug made headlines after One Direction singer Liam Payne reportedly had it in his system when he died on October 16 after a fall from his hotel balcony. Multiple news reports also link pink cocaine to a lawsuit involving music producer Sean “Diddy” Combs.Pink cocaine often includes a mix ofketamine, MDMA (ecstasy),caffeine, and bright pink food coloring, but it may also contain the synthetic psychedelic 2-CB,methamphetamine, andopioids.“It is called pink cocaine, but it usually doesn’t contain cocaine. But, at the same time, it can because you never really know what’s in it,“Maryann Amirshahi, PharmD, MD, MPH, a medical toxicologist and co-medical director of the National Capital Poison Center, told Verywell.Pink cocaine is sometimes called “tusi” or “tucibi”—terms that come from the phonetic translation of the “2C” and “2-CB” psychedelics that used to be in the early formulations of the concoction.However, most pink cocaine mixes today don’t contain these psychedelics, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.“There’s a lot of batch-to-batch variability, and that really does make it quite dangerous because you don’t know what you’re dealing with,” Amirshahi said.How is Cocaine Addiction Treated?Why Is Pink Cocaine So Dangerous?People using pink cocaine can’t predict how they’ll react each time because the mixtures vary.“The ratios might be different and the actual drugs in them could be different. Even if someone gets a specific effect one time, it doesn’t mean that’s the same thing they’re going to get the next time,”Michael D. Levine, MD, a medical toxicologist at UCLA Health, told Verywell.Ketamine, a dissociative drug sometimes found in pink cocaine, has medical uses as an anesthetic and fortreatment-resistant depression.However, the drug can also cause people to hallucinate and feel detached from the world around them.“It can put you in a state where you may be at risk of getting additional injuries as well,” Levine said.Other possible pink cocaine ingredients can raise body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety levels. Long-term use may contribute to the risk of stroke, heart problems, and addiction.“If there’s MDMA in the mix, one of the other things we worry about is really low sodium levels that can actually cause you to seize as well,” Amirshahi said.Sometimes, people mix regular cocaine withalcoholbecause they believe it will “balance out” the effects, leading them to drink even more, according toJoseph Palamar, MPH, PhD, an associate professor of population health at NYU Langone Health who researched pink cocaine.“If someone is desiring that effect from regular cocaine, and somebody hands them ‘pink cocaine’ and it’s more of a ketamine concoction, they’re not going to feel very well,” Palamar said. “Combining a dissociative anesthetic with alcohol is not a great mix. You’ll probably get very sick to your stomach. Mentally, you’re not going to feel well, either.”What Does Cocaine Do to the Heart?How Widespread Is Pink Cocaine?According to DEA, pink cocaine is not as common as other substances like fentanyl pills. It’s usually found in cities with active nightclub scenes like Miami, New York, and Los Angeles.Drug dealers might market this as a “new” drug topolydrugusers.Taking any kind of unknown substance comes with serious risks. Pink cocaine may affect people differently depending on the environment they’re using it in and any underlying health factors they might have.“If you’re seeing someone getting altered, they’re getting sweaty, they’re not conversing appropriately, they’re having a seizure, any of those things would be certainly worrisome,” Levine said.If you think someone may be using pink cocaine and having a serious reaction, call 911 or take them to the nearest emergency room. The treatment for pink cocaine toxicity depends on how severe someone’s reaction to it is and the actual drugs in the mix.What This Means For YouUsing pink cocaine carries high risks, as it’s difficult to know its exact contents and how you’ll react. This drug mix can raise heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety, while long-term use may lead to addiction or cardiovascular problems. If someone shows serious symptoms like seizures, extreme sweating, or confusion, seek emergency help immediately.

Key TakeawaysPink cocaine is an unpredictable party drug mix often containing ketamine, MDMA, and other substances, but it rarely contains actual cocaine.Due to batch-to-batch variability, users can’t predict their reactions to pink cocaine, which may cause severe physical and mental effects.Long-term or mixed use of pink cocaine can lead to serious health risks, including stroke, heart issues, and potential seizures.

Key Takeaways

Pink cocaine is an unpredictable party drug mix often containing ketamine, MDMA, and other substances, but it rarely contains actual cocaine.Due to batch-to-batch variability, users can’t predict their reactions to pink cocaine, which may cause severe physical and mental effects.Long-term or mixed use of pink cocaine can lead to serious health risks, including stroke, heart issues, and potential seizures.

America’s Poison Centers recently issued awarningabout “pink cocaine,” a dangerous party drug mix gaining popularity in U.S. nightclubs.

The drug made headlines after One Direction singer Liam Payne reportedly had it in his system when he died on October 16 after a fall from his hotel balcony. Multiple news reports also link pink cocaine to a lawsuit involving music producer Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Pink cocaine often includes a mix ofketamine, MDMA (ecstasy),caffeine, and bright pink food coloring, but it may also contain the synthetic psychedelic 2-CB,methamphetamine, andopioids.

“It is called pink cocaine, but it usually doesn’t contain cocaine. But, at the same time, it can because you never really know what’s in it,“Maryann Amirshahi, PharmD, MD, MPH, a medical toxicologist and co-medical director of the National Capital Poison Center, told Verywell.

Pink cocaine is sometimes called “tusi” or “tucibi”—terms that come from the phonetic translation of the “2C” and “2-CB” psychedelics that used to be in the early formulations of the concoction.However, most pink cocaine mixes today don’t contain these psychedelics, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

“There’s a lot of batch-to-batch variability, and that really does make it quite dangerous because you don’t know what you’re dealing with,” Amirshahi said.

How is Cocaine Addiction Treated?

Why Is Pink Cocaine So Dangerous?

People using pink cocaine can’t predict how they’ll react each time because the mixtures vary.

“The ratios might be different and the actual drugs in them could be different. Even if someone gets a specific effect one time, it doesn’t mean that’s the same thing they’re going to get the next time,”Michael D. Levine, MD, a medical toxicologist at UCLA Health, told Verywell.

Ketamine, a dissociative drug sometimes found in pink cocaine, has medical uses as an anesthetic and fortreatment-resistant depression.However, the drug can also cause people to hallucinate and feel detached from the world around them.

“It can put you in a state where you may be at risk of getting additional injuries as well,” Levine said.

Other possible pink cocaine ingredients can raise body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety levels. Long-term use may contribute to the risk of stroke, heart problems, and addiction.

“If there’s MDMA in the mix, one of the other things we worry about is really low sodium levels that can actually cause you to seize as well,” Amirshahi said.

Sometimes, people mix regular cocaine withalcoholbecause they believe it will “balance out” the effects, leading them to drink even more, according toJoseph Palamar, MPH, PhD, an associate professor of population health at NYU Langone Health who researched pink cocaine.

“If someone is desiring that effect from regular cocaine, and somebody hands them ‘pink cocaine’ and it’s more of a ketamine concoction, they’re not going to feel very well,” Palamar said. “Combining a dissociative anesthetic with alcohol is not a great mix. You’ll probably get very sick to your stomach. Mentally, you’re not going to feel well, either.”

What Does Cocaine Do to the Heart?

How Widespread Is Pink Cocaine?

According to DEA, pink cocaine is not as common as other substances like fentanyl pills. It’s usually found in cities with active nightclub scenes like Miami, New York, and Los Angeles.Drug dealers might market this as a “new” drug topolydrugusers.

Taking any kind of unknown substance comes with serious risks. Pink cocaine may affect people differently depending on the environment they’re using it in and any underlying health factors they might have.

“If you’re seeing someone getting altered, they’re getting sweaty, they’re not conversing appropriately, they’re having a seizure, any of those things would be certainly worrisome,” Levine said.

If you think someone may be using pink cocaine and having a serious reaction, call 911 or take them to the nearest emergency room. The treatment for pink cocaine toxicity depends on how severe someone’s reaction to it is and the actual drugs in the mix.

What This Means For YouUsing pink cocaine carries high risks, as it’s difficult to know its exact contents and how you’ll react. This drug mix can raise heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety, while long-term use may lead to addiction or cardiovascular problems. If someone shows serious symptoms like seizures, extreme sweating, or confusion, seek emergency help immediately.

What This Means For You

Using pink cocaine carries high risks, as it’s difficult to know its exact contents and how you’ll react. This drug mix can raise heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety, while long-term use may lead to addiction or cardiovascular problems. If someone shows serious symptoms like seizures, extreme sweating, or confusion, seek emergency help immediately.

5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.America’s Poison Centers.America’s Poison Centers warns public about the dangers of pink cocaine.Palamar JJ.Tusi: a new ketamine concoction complicating the drug landscape.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2023;49(5):546-550. doi:10.1080/00952990.2023.2207716Drug Enforcement Administration.What is pink cocaine?.Harvard Health Publishing.Ketamine for treatment-resistant depression: when and where is it safe?.Drug Enforcement Administration.Ketamine.

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.America’s Poison Centers.America’s Poison Centers warns public about the dangers of pink cocaine.Palamar JJ.Tusi: a new ketamine concoction complicating the drug landscape.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2023;49(5):546-550. doi:10.1080/00952990.2023.2207716Drug Enforcement Administration.What is pink cocaine?.Harvard Health Publishing.Ketamine for treatment-resistant depression: when and where is it safe?.Drug Enforcement Administration.Ketamine.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

America’s Poison Centers.America’s Poison Centers warns public about the dangers of pink cocaine.Palamar JJ.Tusi: a new ketamine concoction complicating the drug landscape.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2023;49(5):546-550. doi:10.1080/00952990.2023.2207716Drug Enforcement Administration.What is pink cocaine?.Harvard Health Publishing.Ketamine for treatment-resistant depression: when and where is it safe?.Drug Enforcement Administration.Ketamine.

America’s Poison Centers.America’s Poison Centers warns public about the dangers of pink cocaine.

Palamar JJ.Tusi: a new ketamine concoction complicating the drug landscape.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2023;49(5):546-550. doi:10.1080/00952990.2023.2207716

Drug Enforcement Administration.What is pink cocaine?.

Harvard Health Publishing.Ketamine for treatment-resistant depression: when and where is it safe?.

Drug Enforcement Administration.Ketamine.

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