OPEN LETTER/ Come to the dialogue and listen to me speak, otherwise I will cut off your scholarships, you will rot in prison. Please!

 Kliko këtu për të tjera
Voxpress:

"It's like playing Russian roulette", what is the pink cocaine that is spreading fearfully in Europe

2024-10-18 12:13:50Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
"It's like playing Russian roulette", what is the pink cocaine
Pink cocaine

A cocktail of synthetic drugs known as pink cocaine has become a major concern in Spain, Britain and elsewhere.

Earlier this month, Spanish authorities seized the largest amount of synthetic drugs in their history, including pink cocaine and one million ecstasy pills.

The operation focused on drug trafficking networks in Ibiza and Malaga.

This dangerous substance is associated with an increase in the number of drug-related deaths.

Despite the name, pink cocaine does not necessarily contain cocaine.

It is usually a mixture of several other substances, such as MDMA, ketamine and 2C-B. MDMA, popularly known as ecstasy, is a stimulant with psychedelic properties, while ketamine is a powerful anesthetic that has sedative and hallucinogenic effects. 2C drugs are classified as psychedelics, but can also have stimulant effects.

Pink cocaine, usually found in powder or pill form, is known for its strong color, specifically designed to be visually appealing. It is colored with food coloring and sometimes flavored with strawberry or other flavorings.

The original psychedelic form of the drug dates back to 1974 and was first synthesized by the American biochemist Alexander Shulgin. But the modern variant appeared around 2010 in Colombia and is an imitation.

The drug gained popularity at parties in Latin America and has now spread to Europe.

This drug, in addition to "pink cocaine", is also known by names such as "tuci", "venus" and "eros".

Today's pink cocaine is an unpredictable mix of substances, and that's where most of its danger lies. Users often expect a cocaine-like stimulant, but the inclusion of ketamine can cause serious health risks.

Abuse of ketamine, which is popularly known as a disco drug, can cause loss of consciousness or difficulty breathing. This, in turn, increases the potential dangers of pink cocaine.

Its aesthetic appearance and its status as a "synthetic drug" have contributed to this drug being especially attractive to young people and new users.

Experts compare the use of pink cocaine to the game of Russian roulette, underscoring its unpredictable and dangerous nature.

The drug has spread beyond Ibiza in the UK and there is evidence that it has gained ground in Scotland, parts of Wales and England. Across the Atlantic, New York has also seen an increase in usage.

Health authorities across Europe are alarmed. Pink cocaine is difficult to detect through standard drug tests. It sells for around $100 per gram in Spain and is often marketed as a high-end product.

The growing popularity of pink cocaine is a stark wake-up call in the ever-changing landscape of illegal drugs, where aesthetics, social media trends and risky behavior can combine to create new threats./ VoxNews

* Author Joseph Janes is Professor of Criminology, Swansea University, UK

*This article was published in The Conversation

Galeria fotografike (
)


Në përputhje me standarded JTI

Video

SHIKO KANALIN NE YOUTUBE
×