America's Poison Centers Warns Public About Dangers of Pink Cocaine

Pink cocaine – an illicitly manufactured mixture of drugs dyed pink with food coloring also known as 2C, tusi or tucibi – emerged as a popular party drug in Europe and Latin American and is gaining popularity in the United States.

Since January 2024, America’s Poison Centers National Poison Data System® has documented 18 pink cocaine exposures reported by U.S. Poison Centers in four states. Nearly all patients (83%) received medical treatment. Seven were hospitalized, three with life-threatening symptoms. Additionally, one unconfirmed death has been reported associated with pink cocaine use.

“Pink cocaine is dangerous because you never know what's actually in it,” said Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

“Pink cocaine is a drug often associated with the nightlife and club scene,” said Calello, adding the powdered substance, which rarely contains just cocaine, typically is a mixture of several substances such as ketamine, methamphetamine, ecstasy (or molly), fentanyl and xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer.

“Since the contents and strength of the ingredients can significantly vary from batch to batch, a person cannot know how their body will react to each dose of the drug. Pink cocaine has a significant potential for dangerous drug interactions. Effects may include cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, cardiac arrests and other life-threatening consequences.”

What’s in Pink Cocaine?

Despite its name, pink cocaine usually contains little or no cocaine. Initial versions contained the synthetic stimulants 2C or 2-CB. More recently, pink cocaine refers to an evolving mixture of stimulants, hallucinogens, opioids and other psychoactive substances. Pink cocaine, usually in powder or pill form, typically is swallowed or inhaled. It isn’t usually injected.

Testing of pink cocaine powders in the U.S. reveals most contained:

• Ketamine and ketamine precursors (dissociative anesthetic)
• MDMA, also known as ecstasy (stimulant and hallucinogen)
• Caffeine (stimulant)

Other tested batches of pink cocaine contain stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine, strong hallucinogens such as MDA (Sally) and DMT, the anesthetic lidocaine and opioids including oxycodone and tramadol. Additionally, some mixtures may contain fentanyl.

What Are the Symptoms of Pink Cocaine Overdose?

Because the combination of drugs in each batch may not be known, symptoms may include:

• Vomiting
• Loss of consciousness
• Severe agitation
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations

Additionally, known symptoms of stimulant overdose may occur, including:

• Hyperthermia (elevated body temperature)
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Seizures
• Dysrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)

Poison centers offer the following precautions to protect against poisoning:

• Don’t use pink cocaine alone or in combination with other substances or drugs.
• Call 911 immediately if someone isn’t responsive, not breathing or is seizing.
• While waiting for first responders, start CPR.
• If available, naloxone (Narcan) may be administered if the person is unresponsive or not breathing.
• Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 to reach your local poison center if you suspect someone has taken pink cocaine.