A lack of certainty about what is contained in the cocktail of drugs that has reached Bermuda’s shores in the form of “pink cocaine” is its inherent danger, an internationally certified addiction counsellor has warned.

One person was arrested after the substance was discovered during a routine customs screening at LF Wade International Airport last week and “other conspirators” believed to be involved are being sought, police said.

Camily Lovell, the newly appointed clinical manager at award-winning addiction charity Pathways Bermuda, said she was aware of the drug and was concerned about its arrival in Bermuda. She highlighted the charity’s services and invited anyone struggling with issues related to the substance to reach out.

Ms Lovell said: “It is something that we are just finding out about it. I've done some of my own research on it and one of the nicknames it has is Tusi. It is coming out of Latin America.

“I also know it can contain ketamine, methamphetamine and ecstasy. It doesn't usually contain cocaine as much as the name suggests, it depends on the distributors. I think its more so called that because of the effect it has on you — it has a stimulant effect.

“Every time you have ecstasy and methamphetamine, they are nervous system stimulants. Methamphetamine is the stimulant and ketamine is technically considered as an anaesthetic. It is used for its tranquillising effect but also has a hallucinogenic quality. It’s a cocktail of stuff which is worrying.

“Bermuda has been pretty isolated, we’ve not had a lot of experience with methamphetamine on the island as a popular drug of abuse. It definitely exists within pockets, but in terms of general consumption, it hasn't been overly popular.

“There is a level of concern as to whether it will become. It is important to consider that different drugs have different treatment approaches.

“Ketamine and methamphetamine are not drugs you want to get addicted to. People experience dysfunction, medical and psychological consequences. They are very different to what we are used to on the island.

“This is something that is new to Bermuda and we recognise there are more risks are things are newer. The effects can have far more damage than anything else that people typically have access to as it is a cocktail of substances and you never know what is actually in it.

“Death is entirely possible but you can also end up living your life permanently altered where you can no longer enjoy life. It can be the death of a former you and there is grieving associated with all of it.”

According to a report published by the US Drug Enforcement Administration, ketamine is the most likely drug to be contained in the cocktail.

The DEA said it produces hallucinations, “distorts perceptions of sight and sound, and makes the user feel disconnected and not in control”. Ketamine is an injectable, short-acting anaesthetic for use in humans and animals, it added.

Ms Lovell said the drug was increasingly showing up in local drug screening.

She explained: “I have been hearing a bit more about ketamine, it has become more popular this year, more than at any other time. We don’t want to get caught up in this.

“Generally, ketamine has been used in subcultures like drug parties.

“Typically, it’s not one of constituent abuse but now we are starting to see it show up in drug screenings and there have been people reporting it. It has a sedative effect and will cause perceptual effects.

“Pink cocaine was becoming an issue in 2010, we weren't getting it then but we are now. It is unfortunate.

“It’s not like there is a huge market here on the street level, you might hear about it in certain groups. Our culture is very different to the US but we are starting to see the drug subculture change a bit.”

Ms Lovell holds a Master of Arts in Human Services Counselling from Liberty University in Virginia, a postgraduate degree in addictions and mental health from Durham College in Canada, and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Justice (Forensic Psychology) from Ontario Tech University in Canada.

Pathways Bermuda, which picked up the Rehabilitation Nonprofit of the Year Bermuda prize at the Corporate LiveWire Global Awards this year, provides professional addiction assessments, clinical evaluations, outpatient services and works with its local partners to determine appropriate levels of care for clients. It also provides direct access to world-class overseas residential treatment at Caron Treatment Centres.

Ms Lovell added: “At Pathways, we emphasise family or a support system. Having connection with people who are invested in supporting your recovery is really important.

“I encourage people to learn from the wisdom of others rather than trying to learn the hard way. You are not missing out.

“Addiction doesn't know colour, creed or race, and the road to recovery does not have short cuts.

“If you are genuinely thinking about taking this, talk to someone. Come and have a conversation.

“We can support people and we have no judgment. We just want to encourage people to be safe.”

According to the DEA, the original compound in tusi was 2C-B, a psychedelic phenylethylamine.

It said: “Once 2C-B became harder to get, drug organisations shifted to a drug cocktail, which they dyed pink and sold as pink cocaine.”

DEA laboratory testing has identified pink powders containing combinations such as: ketamine and MDMA; methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA; cocaine and fentanyl; and fentanyl and xylazine.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reports that opioids such as fentanyl accounted for approximately 70 per cent of deaths by drug overdose in the US in 2023 at just under 75,000.

The DEA said: “Ingesting an unknown substance or drug cocktail is dangerous and can be deadly.

“Pink cocaine is a mixture of several different substances, every batch is different, and a person does not know how their body will react to it each time.”

The National Institutes of Health reports that multiple drug checking studies have found that the majority of tusi samples contain ketamine, often combined with MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), methamphetamine, cocaine, opioids, and/or new psychoactive substances.

It said: “Unintentional exposure to its contents can lead to increased risk of adverse effects.”

Anyone with relevant information should contact the police drug unit on 247-1773 or 717-2487.

They may also call the independent and confidential Crime Stoppers number, 800-8477, or use the police community reporting portal.