Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has warned the public, particularly those who frequent bars, pubs and other nightlife venues, about the dangers of a synthetic drug known as 2C-B, commonly marketed as “pink cocaine” despite not necessarily containing cocaine.
ONCB spokesperson Areepakdi Ngernbamrung said the drug was recently highlighted as a growing concern during a meeting of the International Symposium of Forensic Drug Testing Laboratory Directors.
She described 2C-B as a complex mixture of synthetic substances sold under the name “pink cocaine” and available in powder, tablet and capsule forms. The drug has gained popularity among patrons of nightlife and entertainment venues.
Areepakdi said 2C-B stimulates the central nervous system and can produce hallucinogenic effects similar to those caused by LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy. These effects may lead to risky behaviour, posing dangers to both users and people around them.
The ONCB spokesperson warned that excessive consumption of 2C-B or its use in combination with other substances such as ketamine or benzodiazepines significantly increases the risk of overdose.
Such substances are often found in so-called “Happy Water”, a recreational drug cocktail popular in some entertainment settings. Possible side effects include abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure and elevated body temperature, which can result in loss of consciousness and, in severe cases, cardiac arrest, she said.
Thai authorities noted that 2C-B is classified as a Category 1 narcotic under the country’s narcotics law. The production, import, export, distribution and possession of the substance are illegal and punishable by imprisonment./.
