Cocaine comes in many shapes and forms. Many varieties are cut with a huge array of substances. Sometimes, what’s called cocaine, isn’t cocaine at all.
Here is a clear guide of what types of cocaine are out there, what other substances they may contain, and when cocaine isn’t actually cocaine.
Table of Contents
What is cocaine
Cocaine is a powerful, fast-acting stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca plant (Erythroxylon coca), native to South America. It is a highly addictive drug, and is classified as a Schedule II substance, meaning it has few known medical uses and carries a high risk of dependence and addiction. Cocaine comes in many different forms, and is often found cut with other harmful substances, including fentanyl.
Authentic cocaine
Authentic cocaine is cocaine that actually contains substances from the coca plant. Below are the most common kinds of authentic cocaine.
Cocaine Hydrochloride/ Pure Cocaine
Cocaine hydrochloride is the most common form of cocaine found in the United States. It is a water-soluble powder produced by dissolving cocaine base in hydrochloric acid, resulting in the fine white powder most people associate with cocaine. Street dealers commonly cut it with fillers like cornstarch, talcum powder, or flour to increase profit, and increasingly with more dangerous substances like fentanyl.
It is typically snorted or dissolved and injected.
Fish Scale Cocaine
Fish scale cocaine is a high-purity form of cocaine hydrochloride named for its shiny, fish scale-like appearance. While typical street cocaine averages around 60% purity, fish scale cocaine can reach purities of 90% or higher. The more concentrated the cocaine, the greater the strain on the heart and central nervous system, and the higher the risk of overdose.
Fish scale cocaine is often marketed as a premium product, creating a false sense of security in users that think premium means less dangerous.
Crack cocaine
Crack cocaine is made by processing cocaine hydrochloride with baking soda and water, then heating the mixture until it forms small, hard rock crystals. Its name comes from the crackling sound the rocks make when heated. Crack is smoked, which delivers the drug to the brain in seconds through the lungs and produces an intense but extremely short-lived high, typically lasting around 15 minutes.
The rapid cycle of intense euphoria followed by a sharp crash is a major driver of binge use and dependence. According to NIDA, crack cocaine is pharmacologically identical to powder cocaine, but the method of delivery makes it significantly more addictive. Additionally, because crack is often produced at a local level, it is particularly vulnerable to contamination, including with fentanyl.
Freebase Cocaine
Freebase cocaine is a smokable form of cocaine produced using volatile chemicals like ether or ammonia, resulting in a nearly pure cocaine base. Production of freebase cocaine involves flammable solvents that create serious fire and explosion risks during preparation, in addition to the drug’s own risks.
Like crack, freebase cocaine is smoked and reaches the brain quickly, producing an intense but short-lived high that drives compulsive use. Because of its near-pure concentration, it is considered one of the most potent and dangerous forms of cocaine available.
Artificial cocaine
Not everything sold as cocaine actually is. Some substances are entirely different drugs sold under cocaine’s name. Others are mixtures containing little to no cocaine at all. Here’s a partial list of products sold as cocaine that contain little or no cocaine
Brown cocaine
Brown cocaine is not a distinct drug but rather low-quality, heavily adulterated cocaine. Its brown color comes from impurities left behind during crude processing, or from cutting agents added after production. It typically contains a low concentration of actual cocaine alongside fillers, local anesthetics, or veterinary drugs. It is generally considered the lowest grade of cocaine available on the street and is usually found in regions where purer cocaine is less accessible.
Pink Cocaine/tusi
Despite the name, pink cocaine contains no cocaine. Also called tusi or tucibi, it is a synthetic polydrug mixture, typically ketamine and MDMA, dyed pink and marketed using cocaine’s reputation to seem premium. Its composition varies widely from batch to batch. According to the DEA, of 960 tusi samples seized since 2020, only four contained 2C-B, the compound it was originally named after.
Synthetic Cocaine/ bath salts
Synthetic cocaine is a catch-all term for lab-made stimulants sold as a substitute for cocaine, most commonly synthetic cathinones, also known as bath salts. According to the DEA, these substances are designed to mimic the effects of cocaine and methamphetamine but contain no cocaine whatsoever.
They are often sold in packets labeled “not for human consum ption” to avoid regulation. One common synthetic cathinone, MDPV, has been found to affect the brain similarly to cocaine but at least ten times more powerfully, making overdose risk significantly higher than with cocaine itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of cocaine?
Cocaine comes in several forms, including cocaine hydrochloride (powder), crack cocaine, freebase cocaine, and fish scale cocaine. There are also substances commonly sold as cocaine that contain little to no cocaine, including pink cocaine (tusi) and synthetic cocaine (bath salts).
What is the most dangerous form of cocaine?
All forms of cocaine carry serious health risks, but freebase cocaine and crack cocaine are considered particularly dangerous due to how rapidly they reach the brain when smoked. Fish scale cocaine is also extremely dangerous because its high purity makes overdose more likely, especially for people accustomed to lower-purity street cocaine.
Is pink cocaine actually cocaine?
No. Despite the name, pink cocaine, also known as tusi, typically contains no cocaine at all. It is a synthetic mixture most commonly made up of ketamine and MDMA, dyed pink. Its composition varies widely from batch to batch with no standard formula.
What is cocaine cut with?
Street cocaine is commonly cut with fillers like cornstarch, talcum powder, and flour, as well as local anesthetics like lidocaine or benzocaine. Increasingly, cocaine is also being found mixed with fentanyl, which significantly raises the risk of a fatal overdose.
What is the difference between crack and powder cocaine?
Crack and powder cocaine are pharmacologically the same substance, but they differ in form and method of use. Powder cocaine is snorted or injected, while crack is smoked. Smoking delivers the drug to the brain much faster, producing a more intense but shorter high, which makes crack particularly addictive.
Can you get addicted to cocaine the first time you use it?
While physical dependence typically develops over time, cocaine is highly addictive and the brain's reward system can be significantly affected even after early use. In rare cases, sudden cardiac events and death have occurred on first use. There is no safe level of cocaine use.
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