Pink cocaine has been making headlines after several alleged high-profile celebrity cases. This transcends mere entertainment news, with this bright pink drug becoming a real problem across the country.
Poison control centers (APC) have reported increasing exposures to pink cocaine in 2024. Most cases led to medical care, signaling a growing concern, even if the absolute numbers remain relatively low. Law enforcement is finding it at parties, clubs, and college campuses nationwide.
Interestingly, the majority of “pink cocaine” samples contain no actual cocaine. The misleading name creates dangerous assumptions about what users are taking. This guide explains why the name is so deceptive and what’s really in these pink powders.
Understanding Pink Cocaine: Names and Branding
Pink cocaine goes by several street names:
- Tusi (pronounced “too-see”)
- Tucibi
- Pink powder
- Venus
- Pink panther
- 2C-B pink
The name ‘tusi’ is a phonetic play on ‘2C’ (as in the 2C family of psychedelics, including 2C-B). However, most pink cocaine samples contain no 2C-B whatsoever.
Drug dealers use the pink color as a marketing tactic. The bright color gives users a false impression that it’s special or premium. One batch might contain sedating substances while another contains powerful stimulants. Users have no way of knowing what they’re consuming, adding to the danger.
Is Tusi Legal?
Pink cocaine is illegal because it often includes controlled substances, such as MDMA and methamphetamine. Ketamine, while controlled for medical uses, is illegal when diverted for recreational use. Possession and distribution hold varying legal consequences, depending on the substances involved and local laws.
Why Pink Cocaine Is Trending
Social media played a major role in pink cocaine’s rise.
Why people like it:
- Pink makes people think the drug is fun and harmless
- Seems like a premium product because of celebrity associations
- For many, the bright color of the drug gives the illusion of safety
Online mentions of tusi have risen steadily since early 2022, with continued concern through 2023 and 2024 as reports of unpredictable exposures (including those requiring medical intervention) increased.
Many users think pink is less dangerous than white powder cocaine. This false sense of security leads to higher doses and more frequent use.
Where Did Tusi Originate?
Tusi originated in Colombia’s nightlife in the early 2010s as an elite scene drug. By around 2015, it began spreading internationally, becoming more widely available and evolving into the inconsistent pink drug mixtures seen today.
How it traveled:
- Began in Colombian club scenes
- Moved into the Spanish nightlife, particularly Ibiza
- Spread through European festival circuits
- Eventually reached North American cities and college campuses
Are Tusi and 2C-B the Same?
No, they are entirely different substances. 2C-B is a specific psychedelic drug with known effects and dosing. The name “tusi” resembles “2C” from 2C-B, but this similarity is a marketing strategy.
This deceptive branding creates dangerous expectations. Users might prepare for a psychedelic experience but encounter completely different and potentially more harmful effects.
What’s in Pink Powder?
Pink cocaine ingredients vary widely because there’s no regulation in illegal drug manufacturing. Laboratory analysis commonly reveals that some of these are included:
- Ketamine (found in most samples)
- MDMA or similar stimulants
- Caffeine as a cutting agent
- Cocaine (sometimes present, often absent)
- Synthetic cathinones (“bath salts”)
- Fentanyl (an increasing concern)
- Food coloring and artificial flavoring agents
This unpredictable mix creates serious health risks. You might expect energy, but instead feel completely disconnected from reality. You can even accidentally take dangerous amounts of multiple drugs at once without knowing.
What Does Pink Cocaine Smell Like?
Pink cocaine usually smells sweet or fruity because dealers add fake flavoring and dyes. Users report smells like strawberries, cotton candy, or artificial fruit. Don’t trust the smell, though, as these masking tools don’t detract from the dangerous drugs or chemicals included.
Is Pink Cocaine Addictive?
Pink cocaine’s addiction potential depends entirely on the actual substances present in each batch. Different contents create varying addiction risks:
- Cocaine: High addiction potential
- Methamphetamine: Extremely high addiction risk
- Ketamine: Moderate addiction potential with strong psychological dependence
- MDMA: Lower physical addiction risk, but psychological dependence is possible
The biggest concern is polysubstance addiction. Using multiple drugs together increases dependence risk and complicates withdrawal. Many experience psychological addiction to the pink cocaine experience itself, even when the actual contents differ between uses.
Effects and Risks of the Tusi Drug
Side effects depend entirely on which chemicals are present in each batch.
Stimulant effects (when cocaine or methamphetamine are present):
- Increased energy and alertness
- Elevated heart rate and blood pressure
- Intense euphoria followed by severe crashes
Dissociative effects (when ketamine is present):
- Feeling detached from reality or your body
- Visual and sound hallucinations
- Impaired coordination and balance
Serious health risks include:
- Seizures and dangerous overheating
- Heart rhythm problems and heart attacks
- Trouble breathing and coma
- Psychotic breaks and mental health emergencies
- Overdose and death
Combining depressants like ketamine with stimulants creates hazardous situations. The body receives conflicting chemical signals, which can cause heart problems, breathing difficulties, and unpredictable reactions.
How to Recognize Pink Cocaine Use
Since each batch is different, symptoms change constantly. Someone might be wired one day and catatonic the next. Here are some common signs to look out for:
| Physical Signs | Behavioral Changes |
| Bloody noses from snorting | Being more secretive about everything |
| Either huge or dilated eyes | Going to more parties and raves |
| Fast heartbeat and high blood pressure | Intense mood swings |
| Bad coordination | Paranoid behavior |
| Rapid weight loss | Ignoring work, school, and family |
Tip: If you think someone took pink cocaine, get them medical help right away. Some groups also offer drug testing so people know what they’re using.
Treatment for Pink Cocaine Addiction
Individuals need special treatment because they’re often addicted to multiple drugs at the same time when misusing pink powder.
Medical detox helps with:
- Withdrawal from different types of drugs
- Managing dangerous symptoms safely
- Getting your body and mind stable
Treatment programs include:
- Daily intensive programs for maximum support
- Flexible outpatient options that work with your schedule
- One-on-one therapy for your specific addiction
- Group therapy with people facing similar problems
- Dual diagnosis to handle addiction and mental health problems like depression
Recovery planning focuses on relapse prevention, healthy coping skills, lasting support systems, and detailed addiction education.
Staying Safe in the Age of Party Drugs
Pink cocaine shows everything dangerous about today’s designer drugs. The pretty pink color and social media hype can’t hide the real risks. Doctors are seeing more cases of pink cocaine causing dangerous reactions, raising concerns about overdoses.
Identifying warning signs early can save lives. If someone you care about is using pink cocaine or other party drugs, don’t wait for things to get worse. Recovery is possible, and you and your loved ones can find that safe healing with the right professional support.
Contact Refresh Recovery Centers at 888-702-1788 to learn about different substance use disorder treatments that bring lasting recovery.