Tuci, also known as pink cocaine or Tucibi is a street drug cocktail that is produced by mixing MDMA, ketamine, and speed and is also contaminated with substances like oxycodone and fentanyl.  The unregulated and often unknown composition of Tuci amplifies these risks, making each use potentially life-threatening.

Drug cartels in Colombia gave the nickname Tusi or Tucibi to this dangerous drug cocktail just to make it easier to market. Tuci, Tusi, or Tucibi do not have any relationship with 2C-B.

2C-B drug shares the same name with Tucibi but is completely a different drug. 2C-B was initially developed by chemist Alexander Shulgin at Harvard University back in the 70s, and quickly gained popularity in the recreational drug scene. The original 2C-B has a key component of 2C-B or 4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine, renowned for its sought-after psychoactive effects in recreational settings.

According to National Library of Medicine;

Despite its name, the concoction rarely contains 2C series drugs. Multiple drug-checking studies have found that the majority of tusi samples contain ketamine, often combined with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methamphetamine, cocaine, opioids, and/or new psychoactive substances. The tusi phenomenon complicates the drug landscape because it has the potential to confuse both people who use it and researchers alike. People using may think the drug is 2C/2C-B, and they may also be unaware that the concoction tends to consist of ketamine and a wide variety of other drugs. Unintentional exposure to its contents can lead to increased risk of adverse effects. The tusi phenomenon also has the potential to complicate drug research as unknown exposure to drugs like ketamine and MDMA will lead to underreporting of use.

What substances are found in Pink Cocaine?

Contrary to popular belief, Tucibi or tuci, typically lacks any amount of 2C-B. Instead, it is composed of a blend of ketamine, amphetamines, or MDMA, and at times mixed with opioids or hallucinogens like LSD and mescaline and opioids like fentanyl and oxycodone.

Despite its nickname Pink Cocaine, this drug does not contain any actual cocaine.
Despite its nickname Tucibi, this drug does not contain any actual 2C-B.

Tucibi is a home-cooked drug cocktail

Over the past 5 years, tusi has experienced a resurgence, especially in South and Central American club environments. Each manufacturer or street dealer can craft their blend with varying proportions of ketamine and amphetamines. The tusi drug can be cooked up in a kitchen without specialist equipment and sold for a profit.

Pink Cocaine vs Cocaine: What’s The Difference?

While pink cocaine and traditional cocaine share the risk of addiction and chemical dependency, they differ substantially in their origins and effects. Cocaine is plant-based, whereas Pink Cocaine is a mixed-up cocktail drug that contains anything but cocaine, which makes this drug’s effects unpredictable and dangerous. Pink powder drug called as pink cocaine does not contain any cocaine.

Tusi Lavada Meaning

Tusi lavada denotes a particular type or variation of the drug known popularly as tusi, which is a slang term for pink cocaine. The word “lavada” in Spanish means “washed” in English. When used in the context of drug jargon, this might suggest that the tusi has undergone a certain process of refinement or purification.
The actual meaning is different in other regions, as are the specific methods used in the drug’s preparation or distribution.

The term tusi itself does not have a specific meaning in standard Spanish; it is an everyday term used in the drug trade and among users. The composition of Tucibi can vary greatly, making it a potentially unpredictable and dangerous substance, as it may include a variety of other high-risk substances such as cathinones, opioids, and benzodiazepines.

Is Pink Cocaine Addictive?

The risk of addiction to pink cocaine is high. As with many synthetic drugs, it can cause psychological and physical dependence. Users might feel an overwhelming urge to keep using tuci for its euphoric effects due to its MDMA content, spiked with speed, which puts the user on alert at the same time. Over time, users can build a tolerance, needing more of the drug to get the same high, which escalates the addiction risk.

The Unpredictable Nature of Pink Cocaine’s Effects

Due to it’s composition and being a custom mixed drug, the effects are unpredictable and can vary significantly. Depending on the dosage, the effects can range from:

  • a rise in heartbeat
  • heightened sensual acuity
  • mild euphoria to severe hallucinations
  • rapid heart rate
  • nausea
  • increased agitation

In extreme doses, it may even lead to respiratory depression, seizures, or a condition known as excited delirium, potentially resulting in hypothermia and fatal cardiac arrest.

The Popularity of Tucibi, Tusi Drug also known as pink cocaine

The curious drug users, including adolescents, young adults, and those intrigued by this new drug hitting the streets. Tucibi has gained notoriety as a party drug, taking the place of ecstasy in nightclubs and raves. However, like many drugs of its kind, it poses exceptional dangers. Due to the unpredictable composition of Tucibi, even a first-time use can prove fatal.

Tusi emerged as a novel substance in 2022, with its rise potentially linked to the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. With people confined to their homes during lockdowns, drug use became an increasingly attractive option. Those with limited experience in acquiring street drugs could create pink cocaine from readily available products.

Tucibi’s popularity was predominantly seen among teenagers and young adults started to talk about this new pink drug and started to ask what a pink coke drug was, serving as a last resort for individuals trapped in the advanced stages of addiction. The media has played a role in glamorizing this type of drug and drug abuse behavior, often depicting them in a favorable light in television and movies as a pink powder drug, perpetuating a troubling trend.

What is 2C-B? 

In its origin, 2C-B was introduced as a solution for erectile dysfunction and as a libido enhancer. Mainly in nightclubs and certain headshops, you could buy it as a sexual stimulant. It was manufactured legally by certain factories and sold under brand names such as Nexus, Performax and Erox. After MDMA went on the Schedule I list in the United States in 1985, 2C-B became even more popular. By 1995, due to its pronounced potential for misuse and the absence of accepted medical applications, the United States Drug Enforcement Agency classified 2C-B, as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance.

In the early 2000’s there was another spike in popularity due to the rising popularity of research chemicals and the emergence of the illegal market on the darknet.

This drug’s unique pink hue, achieved by adding food coloring, sets it apart visually and has contributed to its growing demand and usage. With a composition that often includes a variety of potent substances like ketamine, MDMA, and sometimes even fentanyl, pink cocaine’s unpredictable nature makes it a public health concern. 

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Sources

National Library of Medicine – Tusi: a new ketamine concoction complicating the drug landscape