Pink Cocaine is the common slang term for synthetic phenylethylamine 2C-B. It is a popular designer drug that is often used in club and party scenes because of its stimulant effect and psychoactive properties. The term “Pink Cocaine” is a misnomer because it does not share any chemical resemblance to cocaine, which is plant-derived hydrochloride.
What Is Pink Cocaine?
Harvard organic chemist Alexander Shulgin, known for his work with Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy), originally developed phenylethylamine 2C-B in the early 1970s. Marketed and sold as a libido enhancer and treatment for erectile dysfunction, Phenylethylamine 2C-B went by the name Performax or Erox. In 1995, the United States Drug Enforcement Agency reclassified the drug as a Schedule 1 Controlled substance because they concluded it had no acceptable medical use and a high potential for abuse.
Over the last decade, Phenylethylamine 2C-B has had a resurgence as a recreational party drug that began in the club scene in South and Central America, which is where it became known as pink cocaine or Bromo. Drug manufacturers commonly manufacture the drug as a pill or a pink powder form that users ingest orally or intranasally.
What Are The Effects?
After ingesting, the effects of pink cocaine peak after approximately two hours but can last between four and eight hours. The effects vary by the amount of the dose. In small doses, the drug may cause a rise in heartbeat, an increase in sensual acuity, and a sense of mild euphoria. Larger doses can cause a rapid heart rate, nausea and vomiting, mild to severe hallucinations, and heightened agitation.
In very high doses, pink cocaine may cause respiratory depression, seizures or a condition called excited delirium, which can induce hypothermia and possibly fatal cardiac arrest.
Because it’s often manufactured in illicit laboratories and not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, it may be impossible to know how strong a dose you are taking. The drugmaker might cut pink cocaine with other chemicals or drugs that are unknown, and these combinations can increase adverse effects.
Pink Cocaine vs Cocaine: What’s The Difference?
Pink cocaine and regular cocaine have a few similarities, including the risk of addiction and chemical dependence. Cocaine is actually a concentrated, refined form of the coca plant known as cocaine hydrochloride. Cocaine acts as both a stimulant and anesthetic, which is why it has some medical applications and is a Schedule II substance in the U.S.
Pink cocaine, however, is a man-made (synthetic drug) phenylethylamine that achieves its psychoactive properties by reacting with the body’s serotonin system.
Can Pink Cocaine Become Addictive?
Pink cocaine use can quickly become an addiction and can cause long-term adverse effects. If you or someone you love is abusing pink cocaine or similar phenylethylamines, it might be time to call Riverside Recovery of Tampa.
Riverside Recovery is a facility that offers a full continuum of care, from medical detox to intensive outpatient. Our approach includes using evidence-based methods and mindful meditation in order to create an environment for our clients that encourages recovery. We made every aspect of the building with this goal in mind.
From our facility’s views overlooking the Hillsborough river to specific lighting and floors, every detail supports healing within our walls while offering tranquility outside them as well. Contact our admissions team for more information.