Pink Cocaine: The Deadly DrugLinked to Liam Payne’s Death
The tragic death of former One Direction star Liam Payne has shed a spotlight on a dangerous new drug known as “pink cocaine.” A partial autopsy revealed that Payne had multiple substances in his system, including pink cocaine, when he fell from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
What is Pink Cocaine?
Despite its name, pink cocaine often contains no cocaine at all. It’s a dangerous concoction of various drugs, including ketamine, psychedelics, ecstasy, methamphetamine, and benzodiazepines. Its distinctive pink color comes from food coloring and often includes strawberry flavoring. It can be taken as a pill or inhaled.
“The first piece that we almost always see in pink, or pink cocaine, is ketamine – a dissociative drug, something that makes people feel like they’re detached from reality,” explained former DEA agent Bill Bodner. “The second component is psychedelics.”
The Dangers of Pink Cocaine
Pink cocaine combines the stimulant and depressant effects of multiple drugs, creating unpredictable and potentially deadly consequences.
“Very, very cheap to make and they can kind of tailor the drug to what the drug user is looking for,” Bodner said.
Dr. Brian Hurley, an addiction psychiatrist with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, cautions, “One of the things around mixtures such as this is people’s behavior might become unpredictable and they may do things that they wouldn’t have otherwise done.”
Pink cocaine is particularly dangerous because of its allure to young adults and teens. Its bright color and availability in nightclubs have made it popular among this demographic.
Growing Concerns and Awareness
Law enforcement and public health officials are raising alarms about the spread of pink cocaine, particularly its accessibility through social media.
“No matter where you live or how isolated you think you are from street drugs, now with social media with the smartphone, everyone lives in an open air drug market,” Bodner said.
Talk to Someone if You or Someone You Know Needs Help
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please know that help is available.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline
offers confidential 24/7 support, just call 1-800-662-HELP (4357). You are not alone.