Pink Powder (pink cocaine): the worst drug ever known

A psychoactive substance that is causing serious harm among its users.

Pink Powder is a drug that has recently become popular.. But drug use is not new, it is an ancient practice. For example, indigenous tribes already consumed coca leaves or peyote as part of their culture.

Today, there are many psychoactive substances consumed by individuals from different social groups. From classic forms such as heroin or cocaine to the synthetic drugs of the contemporary era, the wide repertoire of effects of these substances has led to their use in many contexts. Over the years, new and attractive substances have appeared: krokodil, flakka, bath salts...

• Recommended article: "Types of drugs: know their characteristics and effects".

Pink powder: the drug of the high class

If heroin is the drug of choice for the underclass, cocaine has always been associated with the wealthy, as it is an expensive drug (at least in developed countries). In the last few years, another drug seems to have burst with force among the upper class, it is Pink Powder, also known as Tucibi (2CB), Pink Cocaine, Venus, Eros or Nexus).

Pink Powder is a synthetic drug with psychedelic effects, and according to users, it alters all senses and changes the perception of the world with visual and thought hallucinations. In some cases, the uncontrolled imagination causes terrible attacks of fear or panic, just as LSD does. It seems that this drug combines the hallucinogenic effects of the latter substance with the euphoric and energetic effects of MDMA: the person notices a very pleasant high for the body itself, a feeling of exaggerated strength and an intense nervousness and excitement..

Stimulant effects appear at low doses, while hallucinogenic effects appear after consuming high doses of this product. The duration of these effects is between 4 and 8 hours. Knowing this, it is curious that it is called Pink Cocaine, since the consequences of consuming this drug have little to do with cocaine hydrochloride. The only resemblance between both drugs is in the appearance, that is to say, the presentation in powder form. However, Pink Powder has a high addictive power that is comparable to that of other psychoactive substances such as methamphetamine..

Properties of Pink Powder

Pink Powder is a synthetic drug (also called synthetic or designer) that is characterized by being manufactured through chemical processes, usually in clandestine laboratories. These drugs originated in the 1970s in the United States.

This is how Pink Dust first emerged, since its creator, Alexander Shulgin, first synthesized it in 1974. This drug (2C-B or 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenylethylamine) is a psychedelic phenylethylamine of the 2C family. Shulgin discovered more substances of this family (2C-E, 2C-T-2, 2C-T-7, 2C-I) but Pink Dust is the most widespread.

There are different types of designer drugs: those that mimic the effects of opiates (e.g. New Heroin), cocaine substitutes (e.g. Crystal caine) or substances with original and novel effects (Ecstasy or LSD). Pink Powder belongs to the latter group.

The dosage of Pink Cocaine varies between 16 and 24 mg, and it is usually consumed in powder form, presented in sachets.It is usually consumed in powder form, presented in sachets. However, it can also be consumed in pills or capsules.

Negative consequences of its consumption

This drug is very dangerous and the health consequences of its use can be devastating. Problems appear both in the short term and in the long term. Anxiety and panic attacks are frequent due to the emotional intensity caused by hallucinations, which is also the case with LSD or MDMA.

In the long term, the problems can be: severe anxiety crises, disorientation, depersonalization, extreme tiredness, depression and psychotic disorders.depression and psychotic disorders. Difficulties and problems not only arise in the health of the user, but also in the family environment, which suffers from the consequences of this drug.

Law enforcement agencies are aware of the seriousness of this drug.

Law enforcement agencies in different countries are on high alert to tackle this public health problem. In Colombia, the police in Medellin recently arrested Alejandro Arboleda Uribe, alias "Alejo Tucibi".known as the largest trafficker of this substance. As part of this operation, Colombian authorities also arrested 13 other individuals in the cities of Cali and Ipiales and the island of San Andres. All were part of the same drug trafficking network.

The dismantled gang transported drugs from Colombia to other South American countries, the United States and Europe. Their modus operandi consisted of sending the drugs in human couriers, which then arrived in the destination countries.

Spain is no exception

The use of this drug has also spread to Spain and, in fact, the police in this country have also taken the drug to the United States, The police in this country have also carried out operations to crack down on the illegal trafficking of this substance.. This is to be expected, given how dangerous it could be to have in circulation on the streets a substance whose effects are serious and partially unknown.

In July 2016, Spanish police made nine arrests in a raid in the city of Madrid. Eight of the nine arrested were Colombian nationals.