October 21, 2024: A preliminary autopsy has revealed that former One Direction singer Liam Payne had multiple substances in his system, including the dangerous drug known as “pink cocaine,” when he fell to his death from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Payne’s death highlights the growing threat posed by this synthetic drug, which has become increasingly popular in club scenes across the U.S. and beyond.
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“Pink cocaine” is a street name for a concoction of various substances, often including stimulants and depressants. Despite the name, the mixture rarely contains actual cocaine, according to experts. Instead, the drug cocktail typically features ketamine—an anesthetic with hallucinogenic properties—along with methamphetamine, MDMA, and other psychoactive substances.
This concoction is usually very cheap, which makes it attractive to users. The name “pink cocaine” likely comes from its powder form, which is dyed pink using food colouring.
The drug, also known as tusi, originated in Colombia and was initially named after the compound “2C-B,” a psychedelic first synthesised by Alexander Shulgin. However, today’s tusi rarely contains 2C-B. Instead, underground chemists are constantly tweaking the formula, so no one truly knows what they’re getting, say many experts.
Law enforcement agencies in the U.S. have observed a rise in the distribution of pink cocaine, which is primarily sold online and through social media channels. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently reported that the Sinaloa Cartel is increasingly manufacturing and trafficking the drug.
Public health officials have raised alarms about the drug’s unpredictable and dangerous effects. Tusi can cause amnesia and disassociation, leading to unpredictable behaviour. it is also being used in date-rape cases, where victims are rendered vulnerable by the drug’s potent effects.
In recent months, pink cocaine has been linked to several high-profile incidents. When music mogul Sean Combs was arrested in September, pink powder was found in his New York hotel room. Similarly, Instagram influencer Maecee Marie Lathers admitted to taking pink cocaine before a car crash that killed two people in Miami in August. She now faces multiple charges, including DUI manslaughter.
Experts warn that the drug’s unpredictable composition makes it especially dangerous. “One of the main risks is that people rarely know what they’re taking, and it can be laced with deadly substances like fentanyl,”.
With its bright colour and growing appeal among teens and young adults, law enforcement and public health officials are urging parents to be vigilant.
