Liam Payne had “multiple substances” in his body when he died - including the party drug “pink cocaine”, according to reports from Argentinian media.
The former One Direction singer died after falling from a third floor hotel room balcony in Buenos Aires, where he had been staying, on October 16.
A partial autopsy has been held and revealed the father of one had taken a mix of drugs shortly before his death – one of them being named by sources as “pink cocaine”, local media reports.
The party drug is said to be a mix of other substances and was found in the singer’s system in the first tests completed after his death.
Liam’s body will remain in Argentina until a full post mortem and autopsy can be carried out, ABC News reports.
A preliminary autopsy report from the Argentinian public prosecutor's office has reportedly found that the singer died of "multiple traumas" and "internal and external bleeding".
A source from the autopsy team has said there were a total of “25 injuries” reported on the star’s body including head injuries that were “sufficient to cause death and the cause of death was related to the height of his fall”.
Liam’s dad, Geoff Payne, flew out to the South American country upon learning of his son’s death and has been seen reading tributes to Liam that have been left by fans at the hotel where he died.
But what do we know about the drug said to have been found?
What is pink cocaine?
It is not just cocaine found in the illegal drug. Its name derives from its bright pink hue and strawberry flavouring. The drug itself is said to be a toxic mix of drugs including methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA – as well as cocaine, benzodiazepine and crack.
A former drug enforcement agent Bill Bodner told news agencies: “The first piece that we almost always see in pink, or pink cocaine, is ketamine – a dissociative drug, something that makes people feel like they're detached from reality.
“[It is] very, very cheap to make and they can kind of tailor the drug to what the drug user is looking for.”
Dr Brian Hurley, an addiction psychiatrist with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, added: “One of the things around mixtures such as this is people's behaviour might become unpredictable and they may do things that they wouldn't have otherwise done.”
What does pink cocaine do?
The drug, like all illegal drugs, can have severe and fatal side effects.
Users do not really know what they are taking as pink cocaine is a mixture of different illegal substances.
UK Addiction Treatment Centres said it can cause “hallucinations”.
On its website, it states: “Pink cocaine also has hallucinogenic properties, unlike the purely stimulant effects of traditional cocaine. Users of pink cocaine report both euphoric and psychedelic experiences, including altered sensory perception and mood swings.
“When compared to other stimulants like methamphetamine or synthetic drugs like ecstasy (MDMA), pink cocaine offers a unique combination of stimulant and hallucinogenic effects.”
Taking the drugs is said to produce “euphoria, increased alertness and enhanced sensory perception” the treatment centres added but, as well as potential death upon taking, long term use of the drug can cause “persistent anxiety, depression, psychosis” and serious addiction.
It is also reportedly an easy drug to overdose on and can cause heart attacks, high blood pressure and strokes.
The treatment centres added: “Pink cocaine is highly addictive. Regular use can lead to dependence and a range of long-term health consequences. Chronic use of pink cocaine can result in significant mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, paranoia and psychosis.
“Additionally, the stimulant properties of the drug can cause serious cardiovascular problems, including hypertension, arrhythmias and increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.”
What are other nicknames for pink cocaine?
The drug is known to be a “party drug” and acts as both a stimulant and a depressant.
Its other street names include "tusi" or "tuci", “cocaina rosada”, “tucibi”, “pink powder”, “Eros” and “Venus”. It is said to have hailed from the Latin American party scene.
Where have we heard of it before?
Pink cocaine was recently named in a lawsuit against Sean “P Diddy” Combs.
His former music producer Rodney Jones said in the lawsuit that the star "required all employees from the butler, the chef to the housekeepers, to walk around with a pouch or fanny pack filled with cocaine, GHB, ecstasy, marijuana gummies (100-250 mgs each), and tuci (a pink drug that is a combination of ecstasy and cocaine)".
