Tusi use among the New York City nightclub-attending population.
Joseph J Palamar, Nina Abukahok, Patricia Acosta, Alex J. Krotulski, Sara E Walton, Brianna Stang, Charles M Cleland
Addiction (Abingdon, England) April 20, 2025 DOI: 10.1111/add.70069 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,465 |
| Population | Adults aged 18 years and older entering electronic dance music events at nightclubs in New York City |
| Topics | Ketamine |
| Keywords | Oral fluid Party drugs Pink cocaine Self‐report Drugs_substances tusi Recreational drugs Narcotics Nightlife_entertainment clubs Dance venues Nightclubs Raves Research_studies saliva testing |
| Citations | 7 |
| Key findings | An estimated 2.7% of adults in the NYC EDM nightclub-attending population have used Tusi in the past year, with higher odds among Hispanic individuals and those using other drugs like ecstasy/MDMA, ketamine, or 2C series. |
Abstract
'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. This cross-sectional study included surveys and optional saliva testing of adults entering randomly selected EDM events in NYC in 2024. Adults aged ≥18 years entering EDM events at nightclubs (n = 1465). 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. 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). 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.