Pink Cocaine, Tucibi, or 2-CB Explained
A popular party drug known as “pink cocaine” is raising concerns among health officials, particularly in South America, where the drug is exploding in popularity.
We detail what pink cocaine is, its side effects, and how to get help for pink cocaine addiction.
Are you a loved one in need of addiction treatment for pink cocaine? Zinnia Health can help. Reach out to our compassionate and caring team of addiction specialists today at (855) 430-9439. We look forward to helping you overcome your addiction with our wide range of treatment programs.
What is Pink Cocaine?
Pink cocaine 2C-B is a synthetic drug, also referred to as a “designer drug.” Structurally, pink cocaine is a psychedelic phenethylamine derivative that is similar to the natural psychedelic mescaline, with side effects that are similar to LSD. The side effects of pink cocaine are also often compared to MDMA and ecstasy.
The party drug originated in Colombia, where it is popular in the club drug scene, and is also growing at raves and other parties in Europe, particularly the Netherlands.
In 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a memo detailing the resurgence of 2C-B on the party scene.
Other street names for pink cocaine include:
- Toonies
- Tuci
- Tucibi
- Nexus
- Erox
- Performax
- Synergy
- Bromo
The synthetic hallucinogen is typically a mixture of two or more of the following drugs:
- MDMA
- Ecstacy
- Mescaline
- Ketamine
- Phenylethylamine
- Cocaine
The History of Pink Cocaine
American Chemist Alexander Shulgin is credited with synthesizing 2C-B in 1974. Before becoming a popular party drug in the ‘70s and ‘80s, 2C-B was briefly used experimentally in psychotherapy.
Today, the drug is chemically synthesized in South America, particularly in countries where drug trafficking is on the rise, such as:
- Colombia
- Argentina
- Uruguay
Pink cocaine is currently considered a Schedule I controlled substance with no approved medical uses.
Side Effects of Pink Cocaine
Although there is no actual cocaine hydrochloride in pink cocaine, the effects of the amphetamine are similar to legitimate cocaine and include the following:
- Euphoria
- Increased energy
- Restlessness
- Increased heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Decreased appetite
- Distorted perception
- Headache
- Dehydration
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Blurred vision
Signs of Pink Cocaine Overdose
Signs of a pink cocaine overdose include:
- Extreme anxiety
- Extreme agitation
- Increased body temperature
- Excessive sweating
- Disorientation/confusion
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Clammy skin
- Limp body
- Unresponsiveness
- Respiratory depression
- Coma
Get help before it’s too late with Zinnia Health. We offer a wide range of personalized addiction treatment programs. Learn more about substance use therapy with Zinnia Health today.
What Are the Differences Between Cocaine Hydrochloride and Pink Cocaine?
Pink cocaine and cocaine are very different. The similarities start and end with their high potential for dependency and addiction.
Some of their biggest differences include the following:
- Their origins: Cocaine is a natural derivative of the coca plant. Pink cocaine is a designer drug that’s manufactured in a lab. Their effects: Cocaine has anesthetic and stimulant properties. Pink cocaine has psychoactive properties that impact serotonin in the body.
- Part of the brain they affect: Cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant. Pink cocaine interacts with the brain’s dopamine receptors.
- Inpatient treatment: During inpatient treatment, patients live at a treatment center where they receive care and monitoring on a 24/7 basis. This gives them a chance to start their recovery in a safe and controlled environment free of triggers and access to drugs.
- Outpatient treatment: Outpatient treatment affords patients the opportunity to keep meeting their personal and professional obligations while attending rehab in the evenings, on weekends, or at other times that work with their schedule.
- Detox: Detox is often the first step in recovery. During detox, patients are monitored by medical staff while their body eliminates the drug they are addicted to. This is sometimes done via “tapering,” where a patient receives smaller and smaller doses of the drug until they stop receiving it altogether. This method of weaning the body off the drug allows a more controlled way to stop using rather than quitting cold turkey. It also helps mitigate some of the most nefarious side effects of withdrawal, giving the patient an increased shot at making a full recovery.
- Group therapy: Group therapy lets patients connect with others who are going through the same thing they are. This creates a sense of community and helps patients know they are not alone in their recovery journeys. Lasting friendships are made in group therapy as patients connect with other people who are clean, find new ways to have fun without using, and learn coping skills to help them reintegrate into the real world, knowing they have a team of supporters to call on when they need it.
Is Pink Cocaine Addictive?
Research is still needed to gain insights into the addictiveness of pink cocaine. But one group of researchers looked into the addictive effects of synthetic drugs like pink cocaine and found the drug’s addictive properties are similar to those of meth.
This means that the pink powder has a high potential for addiction in as little as one use.
When someone repeatedly uses pink cocaine, as with any form of cocaine use, their body will start to build up a tolerance, and they will need to use more and more of the drug to feel the same effects as their initial small doses.
The more pink cocaine is ingested, the higher the risk for its life-threatening side effects and complications.
Getting Help for Pink Cocaine Addiction
The good news is that help is available for this synthetic drug and pink cocaine addiction. Recovery centers offer several treatment programs to help fight these addictions, including:
Struggling with Cocaine? Zinnia Health Can Help
Struggling to quit pink cocaine? Zinnia Health is here for you. We offer a wide range of addiction treatment options at our recovery centers around the nation.
Contact us today to speak with an intake specialist and learn more about which program may be the most suitable to help you break free from the chains of addiction.
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