What Is Tusi (Pink Cocaine)?
What tusi, also called pink cocaine, actually is, why the name is misleading, the unpredictable mix of drugs it usually contains, the serious dangers, and how to get help.
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, Physician and Addiction Medicine Specialist, Phuket Island Rehab.
Tusi, also known as pink cocaine (and sometimes tuci or tusibi), is a pink-coloured powder sold as a party drug, and despite its name it usually contains little or no cocaine, and often no 2C-B either, even though the name comes from 2C-B. In reality, tusi is not a single drug but an unpredictable mixture, and testing has found it commonly contains a combination of substances such as ketamine, MDMA (ecstasy), caffeine, and sometimes other stimulants, hallucinogens, or fillers, often with pink dye and a fruity scent added, and the exact contents vary from batch to batch. This unpredictability is what makes tusi so dangerous: users cannot know what they are actually taking or how strong it is, which raises the risk of unexpected effects, dangerous drug interactions, and overdose, and there is a serious risk that it could be contaminated with potent substances such as fentanyl. Because it typically contains stimulants and dissociatives, tusi can cause effects ranging from euphoria and stimulation to hallucinations and sedation, and it carries risks to physical and mental health as well as the potential for addiction. If you or someone you know is using tusi or other party drugs, help is available, and addiction is treatable.
What is tusi (pink cocaine)?
Tusi, also spelled tuci or tusibi and commonly known as pink cocaine, is a pink-coloured powder that has become popular in some nightlife and party scenes and is often marketed as a glamorous or premium party drug. Despite being called pink cocaine, tusi usually contains little or no actual cocaine. The name is a source of much confusion: tusi is thought to derive from 2C-B (a synthetic psychedelic drug, whose name sounds like tusi when spoken), yet in practice most tusi sold today contains little or no 2C-B either. Instead, tusi is not a single, defined drug at all but an unpredictable mixture of substances that varies from batch to batch, typically dyed pink and sometimes given a fruity smell or flavour. This means that the name pink cocaine is misleading twice over: it is usually neither cocaine nor, reliably, the 2C-B its name comes from.
This article explains what tusi actually is, why its name is misleading, the unpredictable mix of drugs it usually contains, the serious dangers this creates, and how to get help. The central message is that tusi is dangerous precisely because it is a mystery mixture: a person taking it has no reliable way of knowing what substances are in it, in what amounts, or how strong it is, which makes its effects unpredictable and raises the risk of dangerous interactions, unexpected reactions, overdose, and contamination with potent drugs such as fentanyl. Understanding that pink cocaine is not a single known drug but an ever-changing cocktail is key to appreciating why it is so hazardous. It is also important to know that using tusi carries real risks to physical and mental health and the potential for addiction, and that if you or someone you know is using it, help is available and addiction is treatable.
What tusi actually contains
The defining feature of tusi is that its contents are variable and unpredictable. Laboratory testing of samples sold as tusi or pink cocaine has repeatedly found that it is usually a mixture of several substances rather than any one drug. Commonly detected ingredients include ketamine (a dissociative anaesthetic), MDMA (ecstasy, a stimulant and empathogen), and caffeine, and samples may also contain other stimulants (sometimes including cocaine or amphetamines), other hallucinogens, and various fillers or cutting agents. Some samples do contain 2C-B, but many do not, despite the name. On top of the active drugs, pink dye and a fruity scent are typically added to give tusi its characteristic appearance and branding. Crucially, the exact combination and the strength of each ingredient vary widely from one batch, or even one bag, to another, so two portions of tusi can be completely different in what they contain and how powerful they are.
This variability is at the heart of why tusi is dangerous. Because it often combines a dissociative (ketamine) with one or more stimulants (such as MDMA and caffeine), users may experience a confusing mix of effects, and combining multiple drugs at once increases the strain on the body and the risk of harmful interactions. A person cannot dose safely when they do not know what they are taking, and a batch that is unexpectedly strong, or that contains a substance the person did not anticipate or reacts badly to, can cause a serious or life-threatening reaction. There is also a grave risk of contamination: because tusi is an illicit, unregulated mixture, it could contain dangerous adulterants, and in the current drug supply there is a real risk that any illicit powder could be contaminated with fentanyl or other potent synthetic opioids, which can cause fatal overdose in tiny amounts. All of this means that tusi is essentially a game of chance with unknown substances.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | Pink powder sold as a party drug (‘pink cocaine’) |
| Name origin | From 2C-B, but often contains little or no 2C-B |
| Cocaine content | Usually little or no actual cocaine |
| Common contents | Ketamine, MDMA, caffeine, other drugs, fillers |
| Key danger | Unpredictable mix; unknown strength and contents |
| Added risk | Possible contamination (e.g. fentanyl); overdose |
The dangers of tusi
The dangers of tusi arise both from the specific drugs it typically contains and from the fundamental problem that its contents are unknown. Because tusi often contains stimulants such as MDMA and caffeine, it can raise heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature, and stimulant effects can include anxiety, agitation, and, in severe cases, dangerous overheating, cardiovascular problems, and other medical emergencies. Because it often contains ketamine, a dissociative, it can cause detachment from reality, disorientation, impaired coordination, sedation, and, at higher doses, a loss of awareness that can be dangerous, especially in a nightlife setting. Mixing a dissociative with stimulants, and often with alcohol or other drugs, compounds the risks and can produce unpredictable and hazardous effects. Users may also experience nausea, confusion, hallucinations, and impaired judgement, which can lead to accidents or risky behaviour.
The overarching danger, however, is unpredictability and contamination. Since a person cannot know what is in their tusi or how strong it is, they cannot gauge a safe amount, and an unexpectedly potent or unfamiliar mixture can cause a severe reaction or overdose. The possibility of contamination with fentanyl or other potent synthetic opioids adds a risk of fatal overdose that the user may not anticipate at all. Combining tusi with alcohol or other substances, common in party settings, further increases the danger. Beyond the immediate risks, regular use of the drugs found in tusi can affect mental health, contributing to anxiety, depression, and other problems, and can carry a risk of dependence and addiction, particularly given the stimulants and ketamine involved. Because tusi is often perceived as a trendy or upmarket party drug, its serious dangers can be underestimated. The reality is that it is an unregulated mystery mixture, and treating it as anything safer than that is a serious mistake.
Getting help
If you or someone you know is using tusi or other party drugs, it is important to know the risks and that help is available. In the immediate term, anyone showing signs of a serious reaction after taking tusi, such as chest pain, a very high temperature, seizures, severe agitation or confusion, loss of consciousness, or slowed or stopped breathing (which could indicate an opioid contaminant), needs emergency medical help without delay. Because of the risk of fentanyl contamination, being aware of the signs of opioid overdose and having naloxone available can be life-saving, and it is safest never to use such drugs alone. For anyone whose use of tusi or the substances within it has become regular or hard to control, or who is concerned about their drug use, professional help can make a real difference.
Addiction to stimulants, ketamine, or other drugs, and problematic drug use more broadly, are treatable, and support is available. Treatment typically centres on counselling and behavioural therapies, which help a person understand and change the patterns driving their use, manage cravings, and address any underlying issues, along with medical and psychological support and treatment of any co-occurring mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression, which are common. Depending on the situation, help may come from a doctor, drug services, or a structured treatment program. The key messages are that tusi, or pink cocaine, is not a single known drug but an unpredictable and potentially dangerous mixture, usually containing little cocaine and often little 2C-B, that its unknown contents and the risk of contamination make it genuinely hazardous, and that if drug use has become a concern, reaching out for professional help is important and recovery is possible. No party drug is worth the risk of not knowing what you are taking.
Summary
Tusi, also known as pink cocaine (and sometimes tuci or tusibi), is a pink-coloured powder sold as a party drug, and despite its name it usually contains little or no cocaine, and often no 2C-B either, even though the name comes from 2C-B. In reality, tusi is not a single drug but an unpredictable mixture, and testing has found it commonly contains a combination of substances such as ketamine, MDMA (ecstasy), caffeine, and sometimes other stimulants, hallucinogens, or fillers, often with pink dye and a fruity scent added, and the exact contents vary from batch to batch. This unpredictability is what makes tusi so dangerous: users cannot know what they are actually taking or how strong it is, which raises the risk of unexpected effects, dangerous drug interactions, and overdose, and there is a serious risk that it could be contaminated with potent substances such as fentanyl. Because it typically contains stimulants and dissociatives, tusi can cause effects ranging from euphoria and stimulation to hallucinations and sedation, and it carries risks to physical and mental health as well as the potential for addiction. If you or someone you know is using tusi or other party drugs, help is available, and addiction is treatable.
As Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, addiction medicine specialist at Phuket Island Rehab, puts it, “The most dangerous thing about tusi is the thing people least appreciate: nobody actually knows what is in it. The name says pink cocaine, but it is usually not cocaine, and it is often not even the 2C-B the name comes from. It is a pink-dyed cocktail, often ketamine and MDMA and caffeine and who-knows-what, and it changes from bag to bag. You cannot dose something safely when you do not know what it is or how strong it is, and in today’s supply there is always the shadow of fentanyl contamination that can kill in a tiny amount. It gets marketed as glamorous, which makes it worse. If someone is using it, please treat it seriously, and know that help is there.”
Frequently asked questions
Is tusi (pink cocaine) actually cocaine?
No. Despite being called pink cocaine, tusi usually contains little or no actual cocaine. The name is misleading. Tusi (also spelled tuci or tusibi) is a pink-coloured powder sold as a party drug, and its name is thought to derive from 2C-B, a synthetic psychedelic, rather than from cocaine, yet in practice most tusi also contains little or no 2C-B. In reality, tusi is not a single drug but an unpredictable mixture of substances that varies from batch to batch. Laboratory testing has commonly found ingredients such as ketamine, MDMA (ecstasy), and caffeine, sometimes along with other stimulants (which can include cocaine or amphetamines), other hallucinogens, and fillers, typically dyed pink and given a fruity scent. So while it is marketed as pink cocaine, that name reflects branding and appearance rather than its actual contents. This is an important point, because people may take tusi assuming it is cocaine or 2C-B when it is actually an unknown mixture, which is a large part of what makes it dangerous.
What is tusi made of?
Tusi is not made to a fixed recipe; it is an unpredictable mixture whose contents vary from batch to batch. Testing of samples sold as tusi or pink cocaine has commonly found a combination of substances, frequently including ketamine (a dissociative anaesthetic), MDMA (ecstasy, a stimulant), and caffeine. Samples may also contain other stimulants, sometimes including cocaine or amphetamines, other hallucinogens, and various fillers or cutting agents, and some do contain 2C-B, though many do not despite the name. Pink dye and a fruity scent are usually added to give tusi its distinctive look and branding. The proportions and strength of each ingredient differ widely between batches, so no two samples are necessarily alike. This is precisely why tusi is so hazardous: because its composition is variable and unknown, a user cannot know what they are taking or how strong it is, which raises the risk of unexpected effects, dangerous interactions between the drugs, and overdose, as well as the possibility of contamination with dangerous substances such as fentanyl.
Why is tusi so dangerous?
Tusi is dangerous for two main reasons: what it contains and the fact that its contents are unknown. Because it typically contains stimulants such as MDMA and caffeine, it can raise heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature and cause anxiety, agitation, dangerous overheating, and cardiovascular problems, and because it often contains ketamine, a dissociative, it can cause disorientation, impaired coordination, sedation, and loss of awareness. Mixing a dissociative with stimulants, and often with alcohol, compounds these risks. But the overarching danger is unpredictability: since a person cannot know what is in their tusi or how strong it is, they cannot judge a safe amount, and an unexpectedly potent or unfamiliar mixture can cause a severe reaction or overdose. There is also a serious risk of contamination with potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, which can cause fatal overdose in tiny amounts. On top of this, regular use of the drugs in tusi can harm mental health and carry a risk of addiction. Its image as a trendy party drug can cause its real dangers to be underestimated.
Can tusi be contaminated with fentanyl?
Yes, there is a real risk that tusi, like other illicit powders, could be contaminated with fentanyl or other potent synthetic opioids. Because tusi is an unregulated, illicitly produced mixture with unknown and variable contents, there is no way for a user to be sure what is in it, and in the current drug supply potent synthetic opioids have been found contaminating a range of illicit drugs. Fentanyl is extremely powerful and can cause fatal overdose in very small amounts, and a person taking tusi expecting a stimulant or dissociative mixture would not anticipate an opioid effect, which makes such contamination especially dangerous. For this reason, anyone using drugs like tusi should be aware of the signs of opioid overdose (such as very slow or stopped breathing, extreme drowsiness or inability to wake, blue-tinged lips, and pinpoint pupils), should never use alone, and, where available, having naloxone (which reverses opioid overdose) on hand can be life-saving. The possibility of fentanyl contamination is one of the most serious reasons that taking any unknown illicit powder, including tusi, is so risky.
Is tusi addictive?
Tusi can carry a risk of addiction, largely because of the drugs it commonly contains. Because tusi is usually a mixture including stimulants such as MDMA (and sometimes cocaine or amphetamines) and often ketamine, and because these substances can be habit-forming, regular use of tusi can lead to psychological dependence and, for some, addiction, meaning compulsive use despite harm. The stimulant components can produce rewarding effects that a person may want to repeat, and ketamine also has potential for regular, compulsive use. Because the exact contents of tusi are unpredictable, the specific risk varies, but the general potential for dependence and addiction is real, especially with frequent use. In addition, regular use of these drugs can affect mental health, contributing to anxiety, depression, and other problems, which can further entrench use. The encouraging message is that addiction to stimulants, ketamine, or other drugs is treatable, mainly through counselling and behavioural therapies along with medical and psychological support. If use of tusi or other party drugs has become regular or hard to control, it is important to seek help, and recovery is possible.
What should you do if someone has a bad reaction to tusi?
If someone has a serious or worrying reaction after taking tusi, treat it as a medical emergency and get help immediately. Call your local emergency number if the person shows signs such as chest pain, a very high body temperature or overheating, seizures, severe agitation, confusion or panic, loss of consciousness, or slowed or stopped breathing (which could indicate an opioid contaminant such as fentanyl). While waiting for help, keep the person as safe and calm as possible, try to keep them cool if they are overheating, and if they are unconscious but breathing, place them on their side (the recovery position). If an opioid overdose is possible and naloxone is available, give it as directed, as it can reverse opioid overdose. Tell the emergency responders that the person took tusi and, if known, what else they may have taken, as this helps treatment. Because tusi’s contents are unknown, any serious reaction should be taken very seriously. It is also safest never to use such drugs alone. Afterwards, if drug use is a recurring concern, seeking professional help is important, and support and treatment are available.
Sources
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Emerging Drug Threats. https://www.dea.gov/
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Club Drugs and Emerging Drugs. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/club-drugs
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fentanyl and Drug Overdose. https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Substance Use. https://www.samhsa.gov/
European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA). 2C-B and New Psychoactive Substances. https://www.euda.europa.eu/
National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Ketamine and MDMA. https://medlineplus.gov/
What is tusi — key entities and related terms
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