Joseph J Palamar, Nina Abukahok, Patricia Acosta, Alex J Krotulski, Sara E Walton, Brianna Stang, Charles M Cleland
AddictionAbstract
Background and aims
‘Tusi’, also known as ‘tusibí’ or ‘pink cocaine’, is a drug concoction which previously emerged in Latin America and Europe and has recently acquired popularity in the United States (US). Consumers are often unaware that Tusi contains a mixture of ketamine and other drugs, and the concoction can be confused with 2C/2C-B (ring-substituted phenethylamines/4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine) or cocaine. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and correlates of past-year Tusi use in the electronic dance music (EDM) nightclub-attending population in New York City (NYC), US.
Design and setting
This cross-sectional study included surveys and optional saliva testing of adults entering randomly selected EDM events in NYC in 2024.
Participants
Adults aged ≥18 years entering EDM events at nightclubs (n = 1465).
Measurements
Exposures were demographic characteristics and past-year use of other drugs. The primary outcome was self-reported past-year use of Tusi, and in a subsample, biologically confirmed exposure to various drugs determined by saliva testing.
Findings
Based on self-report, an estimated 2.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.9–3.9] of adults in the NYC EDM nightclub-attending population have used Tusi in the past year. Compared with white individuals, Hispanic individuals were at higher odds for use [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.10, 95% CI = 1.96–13.25]. Compared with those who did not use, those who used ecstasy/3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (aOR = 6.59, 95% CI = 1.60–27.16), ketamine (aOR = 3.44, 95% CI = 1.18–10.08) and/or 2C series (aOR = 14.82, 95% CI = 4.77–46.04) in the past year were at higher odds for use. Compared with those not reporting Tusi use, those reporting past-year use were more likely to have saliva test positive for cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, methamphetamine and/or synthetic cathinones (Ps < 0.001). They were also more likely to test positive for cocaine, ketamine or methamphetamine after not reporting past-year use (Ps < 0.01).
Conclusions
An estimated 2.7% of electronic dance music-nightclub attending adults in New York City appear to have used Tusi in the past year, with higher use among Hispanic individuals and people exposed (sometimes unintentionally) to other drugs.
FULL ARTICLE
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