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Pink cocaine is a trendy designer drug that comes with devastating health impacts. It’s known on the streets as “Russian roulette” due to its potential lethality. You might have also seen it linked to the death of Liam Payne, the former singer for the band One Direction. Preliminary autopsy results show evidence of the substance in the singer’s body at the time of his death.
The party drug has been gaining in popularity in recent years and it’s been increasingly associated with the celebrity lifestyle. Despite its name it may contain little if any cocaine. Instead it consists of an unpredictable and often dangerous combination of stimulants and hallucinogens as well as other unknown substances.
Most pink cocaine concoctions include MDMA and ketamine. The stimulant and hallucinogenic effects of these drugs can produce dangerous spikes in heart rate and blood pressure. These may also be accompanied by severe and prolonged psychological disturbances ranging from aggression to paranoia to delusions.
The vibrant coloration and increasing presence in party atmospheres around the world may lull users into a false sense of security. Some may assume the designer drug to be “safer” than traditional cocaine. But you shouldn’t be fooled. This drug is not a safe alternative to other substances.
What makes the drug so dangerous is that consumers don’t know the exact combination of substances. The unpredictable composition of the drug significantly increases the risk of a life-threatening overdose.
Pink cocaine is increasingly prevalent on the global party scene. It may be the new “in” drug at the moment but this shouldn’t make anyone feel safe. Payne’s death serves as another reminder that unregulated drug markets are dangerous. This only underscores the need for increased security and drug testing at parties and festivals.
