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Liam Payne Death: What is pink cocaine?

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Pink cocaine , a drug cocktail which can include ketamine , ecstasy , methamphetamine , and crack, has garnered attention as a party drug . Some media outlets have reported that former One Direction singer, Liam Payne , had pink cocaine in his system at the time of his death, leading to calls for increased awareness about its dangers.

What is pink cocaine? Despite its name, pink cocaine generally does not contain any cocaine. The concoction, which gets its pink hue from food colouring and occasionally strawberry flavouring, typically includes at least one stimulant and one depressant. Common ingredients found in pink cocaine include methamphetamine, ketamine (a dissociative anaesthetic known for its hallucinogenic effects ), MDMA (ecstasy), benzodiazepines, crack, and caffeine.

It is usually consumed in pill form or snorted as a powder and is rarely injected. The drug is most commonly associated with the clubbing scene.


What are its other names?
This drug cocktail is also known by street names such as tusi, tuci, cocaina rosada, tucibi, pink powder, Eros, and Venus. The name "tusi" is derived from the psychedelic compound 2-CB, first synthesised by Alexander Shulgin, often referred to as the "godfather of ecstasy". However, law enforcement officials note that 2-CB is now rarely found in pink cocaine.

Why is pink cocaine in the news? Reports have surfaced that Liam Payne, the former One Direction singer, had pink cocaine in his system when he tragically fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Argentina last week. Both ABC News and TMZ cited anonymous sources familiar with the preliminary findings of a partial autopsy, suggesting the drug cocktail was present in his body.

What effects does pink cocaine have?
The drug is used primarily on the club scene for its euphoric and sensory-enhancing effects. They also stress how easy it is to overdose on pink cocaine. Long-term use can result in serious health issues such as heart attacks, high blood pressure, a heightened risk of stroke, behavioural changes, addiction, anxiety, depression, and even psychosis.

Where did pink cocaine originate? Pink cocaine first appeared on the streets of Colombia around 2010, with its popularity spreading throughout the Latin American club scene, particularly in Argentina, Venezuela, Uruguay, Chile, and Panama, as reported by Vice. It has also gained a foothold among clubbers in the United States and Europe, particularly in Spain. According to a 2022 UN drug report, pink cocaine has also been found in the UK, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, and parts of Southeast Asia.

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