Medical experts warn of rise of new drugs such as pink cocaine and cannabis candies

Medical experts at Barcelona's Hospital Clínic have warned about the rise of new drugs, such as pink cocaine, also known as tusi, and cannabis candies. 

The number of patients treated at the hospital for intoxication of such substances has grown by 14% in the last 5 years. In 2024, the center registered 2,384 patients related to these kinds of drugs.

The hospital's Clinical Toxicology Unit presented data on Tuesday which indicated that one in ten cases is under 20 years old.

Almost two thirds of intoxications - 63% - are related to drug abuse and one quarter to medications.

Although a majority (57%) of such intoxication cases come from alcohol and 25% from cocaine, medical experts have noticed an increase in new psychoactive substances.

Those affected by tusi, pink cocaine, have increase fourfold, and those who had consumed cannabis sweets have doubled in two years, with 24 treated in 2024.

The Clinical Toxicology Unit saw a generalized increase in its activity in 2024, with 2,384 cases registered.

Emilio Salgado, head of the Clinical Toxicology Unit, insisted that "the phenomenon of intoxication is a growing health problem," and highlighted the need to carry out "multidisciplinary work" to treat patients and detect new dynamics of abuse.

Tusi, crack, and cannabis sweets

Experts indicated that in 2024 the patients affected by tusi, a mixture of ecstasy and ketamine known as pink cocaine, have multiplied by four in relation to the figures of 2023. "It's important to see how patterns change because stimulants move in the market according to fashions and trends," explained Salgado.

He also added that there has been a notable growth in crack use in the last two years, and that the cases have tripled. "We have detected a change in cocaine consumption, so that 10% of the cases treated are for crack," he explained. He also pointed out that this trend has been increasing since 2021 and that crack users are associated with an unfavorable socioeconomic situation.

From a toxicological point of view, smoking crack generates a significant impact, as it "can cause more serious cardiovascular effects." He also explained that in the last year they have encountered cases of pulmonary hemorrhage as a result of this consumption. Salgado added that it is "a situation that I did not think I would see in Barcelona and that has happened."

Another phenomenon that worries the medical professionals is the consumption of cannabis sweets. Salgado stated that in most cases, 58%, those affected were middle-aged female tourists who had bought these products as souvenirs in cannabis shops.

In this sense, the hospital warned of a lack of regulation of these candies that contain a semi-synthetic substance, which is obtained from the plant but which is modified in a laboratory.

They explained that this type of product does not pass quality or safety controls and is accessible and economical. In addition, the perception of risk by consumers is low, since they are presented in a bag of sweets.

New substances

Marina Parra, another leading expert in pharmacology and toxicology at the hospital, explained that the medical centre's lab "must constantly adapt analysis to new trends in drug consumption."

She said that over the past year, 233 cases of new psychoactive substances were detected, which she defined as “drugs that are not controlled internationally by the United Nations Conventions, but that may pose a risk to public health.”

Among others, she highlighted the detection of synthetic cathinones, such as methylmethcathinone and chloromethcathinone, although cases of chloromethcathinone have decreased by 60% in the last year.

There has also been a 22% increase in the detection of pregabalin in recreational format, known as karkubi (a mixture of pregabalin with clonazepam or cannabis). Doctors have explained that this substance began to be consumed in North Africa years ago, and said that as people migrated to the European continent, they brought the consumption of this product with them.