Daijiworld Media Network - New York
New York, Apr 21: A study released on Monday estimates that in 2024, 2.7 percent of adults attending electronic dance music nightclubs in New York City (NYC) reported using the drug mixture known as ‘Tusi’ within the past year. The research also indicated a higher prevalence of ‘Tusi’ use among Hispanic individuals and those who use other drugs.
‘Tusi’, also referred to as ‘tucibi’ or ‘pink cocaine’, is a concoction of drugs that originated in Latin America and Europe within the last decade and is gaining traction in the United States.
The study, published in the scientific journal Addiction, highlights a significant issue: consumers often lack a clear understanding of ‘Tusi’ when they ingest it.
The confusion stems from its various names. ‘Tusi’ is a phonetic adaptation of “2C,” a family of psychedelic drugs, leading some users to believe they are taking a psychedelic. It is also commonly called “tucibí” or “tusibí,” which are phonetic translations of 2C-B, a specific psychedelic substance. Furthermore, the name “pink cocaine” (“cocaina rosada” in Spanish) adds to the potential for misinterpretation, as users might assume they are consuming largely unadulterated cocaine.
However, the reality is that ‘Tusi’ is a drug cocktail that rarely contains 2C drugs (or other psychedelics). Its most common components are ketamine and MDMA (ecstasy), sometimes combined with cocaine. This discrepancy poses a significant danger to users.
The study involved surveying a sample of 1,465 adults as they entered 124 electronic dance music events held at NYC nightclubs between January and November 2024. Participants completed a survey on an electronic tablet before entering the venue. The survey data was used to estimate the prevalence of ‘Tusi’ use among the broader population attending electronic dance music events at NYC nightclubs in 2024.
The researchers emphasize that individuals who use illicit drugs are already at an elevated risk of consuming substances that are adulterated or even replaced with other drugs.
“But ‘Tusi’ puts people who use drugs at an even higher risk, partly because it is easily confused with two other types of drugs – 2C series or cocaine – and partly because Tusi is pretty much always a concoction of various drugs. This greatly increases the risk of adverse or unexpected effects,” cautioned the study’s lead author, Dr. Joseph Palamar, of NYU Grossman School of Medicine.