What is this new "pink cocaine"?

By Joseph Janes - Lecturer in Criminology, Swansea University

Pink in color, strawberry-flavored... This isn't the latest candy trend in playgrounds, but rather a drug mix that's been popular among certain "clubbers" in Europe for some time: "pink cocaine." Behind this misleading name lies a cocktail whose danger largely stems from its highly variable composition.


In early September 2024, Spanish authorities carried out a targeted operation against drug trafficking networks in Ibiza and Malaga. This operation led to the largest seizure of synthetic drugs ever made in the country: more than one million ecstasy pills were confiscated along with a large quantity of "pink cocaine."

Responsible for a growing number of deaths, this cocktail of synthetic drugs, with a variable composition, has recently become a major concern in Spain and other countries, particularly the UK (In France, pink cocaine was first reported in 2022, ed.). The substance has gained so much attention that European drug control agencies have issued warnings about the need to address the risks associated with it.

What is in pink cocaine?

Despite its name, pink cocaine does not necessarily contain cocaine. Generally, it is more of a mixture of various other substances, including MDMA, ketamine, and 2C-B. MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, is a stimulant with psychedelic properties, while ketamine is a powerful anesthetic with sedative and hallucinogenic effects. 2C drugs are classified as psychedelics but can also produce stimulant effects.

It was American biochemist Alexander Shulgin who first synthesized 2C-B in 1974. The modern variant, which emerged around 2010 in Colombia, is a counterfeit version of it.

Pink cocaine typically comes in either powder or pill form and is notoriously known for its bright color, achieved using food coloring meant to enhance its visual appeal (in addition, the powder is sometimes flavored with strawberry or other tastes).

After slowly gaining popularity in Latin American party scenes, pink cocaine—also known as "cocaina rosada" and "tusi" or "tusibi" (phonetic transcriptions of 2C and 2C-B, pronounced in English)—has spread to Europe.

Russian roulette

The unpredictable composition of pink cocaine is largely what makes it so dangerous. Users often expect to take a stimulant similar to cocaine, but the presence of ketamine can instead induce dissociative effects.

Moreover, ketamine is widely spread in clubs, and ingesting too much of it can lead to unconsciousness and breathing difficulties.

Pink cocaine carries the same allure as drugs like cocaine and MDMA, substances considered "glamorous" despite the risks associated with their use. Its appearance and status as a "designer drug" particularly enhance its appeal to young people and novice consumers.

It is also marketed as a "premium" product, with a gram costing around $100 in Spain (roughly €90).

However, this high-end positioning shouldn't detract from the very real dangers linked to consuming pink cocaine, which experts liken to the infamous deadly game of Russian roulette, due to the uncertain composition of the mix.

In Europe, the drug originated from Ibiza clubs and has now reached the UK's shores, where it is gaining ground in Scotland, and parts of Wales, and England. On the continent, health authorities are also sounding the alarm (pink cocaine has also been detected in France, Germany, and Benelux, among other places), while across the Atlantic, an increase in its availability has also been noted in New York.

One of the challenges faced in the fight against pink cocaine is that the drug is difficult to detect with standard drug tests. Moreover, in Spain, the currently used tests are not yet able to identify all potential components.

The legal responses vary by country. Spanish authorities are attempting to curb its distribution. In the UK, pink cocaine is not explicitly listed in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which categorizes drugs into three classes, A, B, and C, based on their harm. However, its components are listed: MDMA and 2C-B are classified as class A drugs, while ketamine belongs to class B.

Reducing the harms of pink cocaine

The increase in the use of pink cocaine highlights the need for more access to kits to test drug compositions. Such tools are essential to reduce the harms from mixtures: they allow users to test the substances they plan to consume, enabling them to identify unknown components and, in doing so, offer some protection.

Providing such services, aimed at mitigating the harmful consequences of drug use, is a vital issue, as my own research has shown. A complementary approach involves launching public awareness campaigns. Finally, setting up support services also plays a significant role in combating drug-related harms.

The growing popularity of pink cocaine serves as a reminder that the drug landscape is constantly evolving, particularly under the influence of trends and fashions spread via social media, which can contribute to the emergence of new threats.