Tusi (drug) explained

Type:combo
Component1:Ketamine
Class1:Dissociative
Component2:MDMA
Class2:Stimulant
Component3:Methamphetamine
Class3:Stimulant
Component4:Cocaine
Class4:Stimulant
Component5:Opioid
Class5:Opioid
Legal Status:In general: illegal
Routes Of Administration:Oral, insufflation
Bioavailability:Varies
Metabolism:Primarily liver
Metabolites:Varies
Onset:
Excretion:Primarily kidney
Atc Prefix:None
Synonyms:tuci, tucibi, pink cocaine

Tusi (tuci, tucibi), also known as pink cocaine, is a recreational drug most commonly found in pink-dyed powder form that contains a mixture of different psychoactive substances.[1] [2] The concoction is also referred to as “pink cocaine”, as it typically circulates on the illicit market in pink powder form. Tusi is believed to have originated in Latin America around 2018. Drug-checking studies in Latin America report tusi to be a concoction of ketamine, MDMA, cocaine, methamphetamine, caffeine, opioids, and other new psychoactive substances (NPS).[3] Existing literatures suggest tuci to have no standard proportions of the constituent drugs.

Authorities in New York City report that lab tested samples have very little or no cocaine. They say there are record numbers of overdoses and there is no way to know exactly what is in pink cocaine.[4] Because the drug usually contains a mix of uppers and downers it is sometimes called a speedball.[5]

Authorities are trying to educate potential users who may not know how different ketamine is from cocaine. Cocaine is a stimulant and ketamine is a sedative-hallucinogenic anesthetic.[6] It does not mix well with alcohol.[7]

The name "tusi" phonetically translates to "2C", while they may be pronounced in a similar way, tuci is not the same psychoactive substance as 2C-B (or, more broadly, the 2C family). Tuci, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, contained no 2C-B in most instances as of 2022.

Notes and References

  1. Palamar . Joseph J. . 2023-09-03 . Tusi: a new ketamine concoction complicating the drug landscape . The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse . en . 49 . 5 . 546–550 . 10.1080/00952990.2023.2207716 . 0095-2990 . 10636235 . 37162319 . September 3, 2024 .
  2. Web site: ALERT: Powder sold as pink tusi found on-site at Lost Village 2022 . 2024-03-10 . The Loop . en-GB.
  3. Web site: Global SMART Update 2022-Vol.27 . 2024-03-10 . United Nations : Office on Drugs and Crime . en.
  4. Web site: New mystery drug 'pink cocaine' isn't what you might think. ABC7 New York. 2024-08-14. 2024-08-12.
  5. Web site: Wiginton. Keri. Pink Cocaine: Risks, Effects, and Treatment. WebMD. 2024-08-17.
  6. Web site: Reporter. Joshua Rhett Miller Chief Investigative. 'Pink Cocaine' Busts Highlight Alluring New Drug Trend: 'It's pretty'. Newsweek. 2024-08-14. 2024-07-13.
  7. Web site: Olaizola. Beatriz. 'Pink cocaine': The expensive and trendy drug is neither cocaine nor high quality. El País English. 2024-08-14. 2023-03-29.