Pink cocaine: a new 'strawberry' drug that causes unusual euphoria but also hallucinations and heart problems

Liam Payne's death has hit fans around the world. The singer, who had enjoyed huge success with One Direction in the past, tragically died after falling from a third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires. Initial autopsy results showed that he had taken a mixture of several drugs shortly before his death, one of which was so-called pink cocaine - a drug that has recently become a popular part of the illegal dance scene.

The sad incident has reopened the debate about the dangers of illegal drugs, which are often found at dance parties around the world. Although pink cocaine looks innocent due to its pink appearance and sweet flavor, it is actually highly dangerous. So what is pink cocaine and what makes it so risky for its users?

Pink cocaine - a deadly tanning cocktail

Pink cocaine is not a traditional form of the drug. Its name derives from its distinctive pink colour and strawberry flavour, which is designed to lure in as many users as possible. However, it is not a pure substance but a dangerous mixture of drugs. It combines several illegal substances, including ketamine, MDMA, methamphetamine, cocaine and others. This makes pink cocaine particularly dangerous because users often do not know exactly what they are consuming.

Bill Bodner, a former drug enforcement agent, explains that pink cocaine most often contains ketamine, a substance that has dissociative effects and causes a sense of detachment from reality. The drug is produced for relatively cheap money and can be tailored to the user's desires, adding to the risk of unpredictable behaviour after use. However, the rising demand for the drug is pushing the price up, and a user can pay around €70-100 (€1,700-2,400) for a gram of the substance.

Effects and risks of pink cocaine

Pink cocaine is highly addictive and its effects combine stimulant and hallucinogenic elements. Users describe euphoric states, heightened sensory perception and mood changes, but also hallucinations that traditional cocaine does not cause. Long-term use can lead to serious psychological problems such as anxiety, paranoia, psychosis or depression.

The use of pink cocaine can also have fatal consequences. A mixture of illegal substances can lead to overdose, heart attack, stroke or serious cardiovascular problems. This is what makes this drug extremely dangerous, especially in the dance scene where it is often taken in large quantities.

Other names and origins

This drug has several different street names - sometimes referred to as "tusi", "tucibi" or "pink powder". Pink cocaine first appeared on the Latin American dance scene, from where it gradually spread to other parts of the world. Although experts strongly warn that the use of this drug can have irreversible consequences on physical and mental health, its popularity continues to grow.