Tusi (Pink Cocaine)
Tusi, also known as pink cocaine, is a street drug that contains a mix of psychogenic substances. Each batch of tusi contains different substances, like ketamine, MDMA, or fentanyl, making its potency and effects unpredictable and dangerous.
What Is Tusi (Pink Cocaine)?
Pink cocaine, also known as tusi, is a combination of multiple substances that may or may not contain cocaine. Tusi is generally made of substances that cause hallucinations, like ketamine or MDMA. The powder is often dyed pink, which is how it got its name. It may also have a sweet smell.
What Is Pink Cocaine Made Of?
Pink cocaine is often comprised of several different compounds. Historically, the tusi drug contained a compound called 4-Bromo-2,4-dimethoxyphenthalmine (also known as 2C-B, Nexus, Toonies, Bromo, Spectrum, or Venus). Tusi gets its name from the Spanish pronunciation of 2C-B, one of the common names for the drug.
Modern pink cocaine doesn’t generally contain 2C-B because it has become harder to get. It is not always possible to know what the ingredients of a tusi cocktail are until the sample is tested, but the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has reported combinations including:
- Ketamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy)
- Ecstasy, methamphetamine, and ketamine
- Cocaine and fentanyl
- Fentanyl and xylazine
Poison Control also reports that caffeine is often included in pink cocaine. Overall, the majority of tusi contains ketamine with some other combination of substances.
Why Is It Pink?
Pink cocaine is often pink because of pink food coloring added to the drug. Drug makers dye the drug with food coloring or baking powder that is colored to give it a different appearance than other drugs, such as methamphetamine or cocaine.
Effects Of Tusi
The effects of tusi depend on the individual substances present in the drug.
Ketamine is used in both human and veterinary medicine as an anesthetic, for pain management, or for managing depression that is resistant to treatment. Drugs like MDMA are known for their psychedelic effects as well as having some stimulant properties. Cocaine and methamphetamines are stimulants that act on the central nervous system, while fentanyl is a powerful narcotic.
Tusi may also be associated with:
- Anxiety
- Euphoria
- Hallucinations
- Increased body temperature
- Increased heart rate
- Heightened blood pressure
It can also cause abnormalities in blood electrolytes, nausea, vomiting, seizures, arrhythmias, and even coma.
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Dangers Of Tusi
One of the primary dangers of pink cocaine is the lack of consistency in its composition, which makes it difficult to predict the potency and effects. The dangers for each batch of pink cocaine will vary.
Fentanyl is a strong opioid medication that can cause overdose, even in small doses. Pink cocaine containing fentanyl may cause respiratory depression and result in overdose or even death.
Methamphetamine, cocaine, and MDMA, if present in pink cocaine, can increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms and high blood pressure, and can also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Ketamine can cause disinhibition, which can increase the risk of risk-taking behaviors and potentially lead to delusional thinking with long-term use. Long-term use of ketamine can also increase the risk of symptoms like cramping and bladder problems.
People who use pink cocaine may be more likely to use it with other substances, such as alcohol, which may increase the risk of interactions between substances. Dependence or addiction is also a potential danger associated with tusi.
Can You Overdose On Pink Cocaine?
Yes, it is possible to experience an overdose from pink cocaine, though the likelihood of overdose varies based on the mixture of substances. Fentanyl can cause overdose in even low doses, so pink cocaine containing fentanyl may be more likely to cause overdose. Opioid overdose may cause respiratory depression.
Ketamine overdose may be associated with memory loss, numbness, or decreased breathing. Hallucinations, chest pain, confusion, paralysis, or terrors may also occur.
Stimulants can cause dizziness, irritability, tremors, skin flushing, seizures, abnormal heart rhythm, high body temperature, and problems with the heart rate or blood pressure.
Prevalence Of Pink Cocaine
Pink cocaine reports date back as far as 2012, but it has gained prevalence in recent years. The original 2C-B phenethylamine was first synthesized in 1974. When 2C-B was no longer readily available, drug makers started mixing other, cheaper substances to mimic the effects. Pink cocaine may not be as prevalent as the components such as fentanyl or MDMA, but it is increasing in prevalence and gaining popularity in club scenes across the United States.
The DEA reports that pink cocaine is not generally trafficked but may be seen more in a retail use setting. Agents have seized at least 960 packages of pink cocaine since 2020, very few of which contained 2C-B. The majority of the drug seized has been in larger cities with an active club scene.
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Treatment For Tusi Use
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, there are treatment options available. With a substance as unpredictable as tusi, the dangers are unpredictable, and the best time to seek treatment is as soon as possible.
Your healthcare provider is a good place to start when considering treatment options. If you are ready to commit to an addiction treatment program, there are many addiction centers available that can help you or your loved one seek treatment for pink cocaine use. Contact a treatment provider or visit our rehab directory today to explore your treatment options.
