Pink cocaine is spreading in the NYC club scene: officials
NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Authorities in Argentina revealed pink cocaine was one of the drugs found in Liam Payne’s system.
Pink cocaine was also named in a lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs as one of his alleged go-to drugs.
Here is what to know about this "party drug,” including how long officials in our city have been fighting against it.
The price for pink cocaine ranges from 20 to 100 dollars a gram. Dealers will try to get whatever they can for it without even knowing what they are selling.
The two words “pink cocaine,” many are hearing about it for the first time after Liam Payne’s death but the illegal recreational drug has been spreading throughout our neighborhoods for some time now.
“The most recent case probably was one we arrested in September of this year. The thing that we’ve discovered is that pink cocaine doesn’t have a consistent content. Sometimes it’s been pure ketamine. Sometimes ketamine is mixed with methamphetamine, MMDA. Every now and then there is cocaine in it,” stated New York City's special narcotics prosecutor, Bridget Brennan. She added, her first discovery of pink cocaine was at the beginning of 2023.
For the most part, pink cocaine is sold on social media and other online platforms.
“A case that we had during the summer, where a woman was selling over telegram, an ap, she was selling what reported to be pink cocaine. And each of the substances that an undercover bought several times, each time was a different mix,” said Brennan.
“They started seeing it in New York City in January of 2023, that just means they started finding it doesn’t mean, it is when it first emerged. You can get it on the streets in New York or in the clubs if you have what you call a plug or know someone,” said Dr. Don Grant, A Newport Healthcare Doctoral Addictions Counselor, and Psychologist.
The powdery and colorful drug is now taking over the New York City club scene.
“I’ve heard of it as Tusi, it is just a street drug really, they are just consuming out in clubs and bars,” said Juan, a NYC resident.
A major concern is fentanyl being mixed with pink cocaine. According to authorities, fentanyl is detected in over 80% of overdose deaths in New York City.
“We are certainly hearing a lot about it now but that is because we are hearing some celebrity deaths or some celebrity involvement in it,” concluded Brennan.
Officials tell PIX11 News since cases of pink cocaine are relatively new, it is still too early to determine if previous overdose deaths are linked to this drug.