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

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

Currently, there are many psychoactive substances that individuals from different social groups use. From classic forms such as heroin or cocaine to synthetic drugs of the time contemporary, the wide repertoire of effects of these substances has caused them to be used in many contexts. Over the years, new and attractive substances appear: krokodil, the flakka, the bath salts…

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Pink Powder: the drug of the upper class

If heroin is the drug consumed by the marginal classesCocaine has always been associated with wealthy people, as it is an expensive drug (at least in developed countries). In recent years, another drug seems to have made its way into the upper class, it is Pink Powder, also known as Tucibi (2CB), Pink Cocaine, Venus, Eros or Nexus).

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

The stimulating effects appear at low doses, while the 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 receives the name of Pink Cocaine, since the consequences of consuming this drug have little to do with cocaine hydrochloride. The only similarity between the two drugs is in appearance, that is, the powder presentation. Now the Pink Powder has a high addictive power that is comparable to that of other psychoactive substances such as methamphetamine.

Pink Powder Properties

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

This is how Pink Powder first came about, 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 the Pink Powder is the one that has spread the most.

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

The dose of Pink Cocaine varies between 16 and 24 mg, and is usually consumed in powder, presented in bags. 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 short-term and long-term. Anxiety and panic attacks are frequent due to the emotional intensity caused by hallucinations, something that also happens with LSD or MDMA.

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

The forces of order are aware of the seriousness of this drug

The alert is highest among the forces of order in different countries to be able to tackle this public health problem. In Colombia, the Medellín police recently detained Alejandro Arboleda Uribe, alias "Alejo Tucibí", known as the largest trafficker of this substance. As part of this operation, the Colombian authorities also detained 13 other individuals in the cities of Cali and Ipiales and the island of San Andrés. They were all part of the same drug trafficking network.

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

Spain is no exception

The consumption of this drug has also spread throughout Spain and, in fact, The police of this country have also carried out operations to end the illegal traffic of this substance. This is something that would be expected, given how dangerous it could be to have a substance circulating on the streets whose effects are serious and partially unknown.

In July 2016, the Spanish police carried out nine arrests in a raid in the city of Madrid. Eight of the nine detainees were Colombian citizens.