New drugs in 2026: ecstasy, ketamine, nitrous oxide and pink cocaine

What are the new drugs, and why do new psychoactive substances appear so fast?

The new drugs spreading among young people today include ecstasy pills, ketamine, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) balloons and a pink mixture called "pink cocaine" or "tusi", alongside a fast-growing family that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) calls new psychoactive substances (NPS), sometimes described as new synthetic drugs. What they all have in common is that the person taking them often does not know exactly what they are taking, or how strong it is.

UNODC explains that many of these substances are made by slightly changing the chemical structure of well-known drugs so that they slip past existing drug laws. That is why new names appear faster than any family can keep up with. According to UNODC's Early Warning Advisory, about 1,396 different new psychoactive substances had been reported by 10 October 2025, by 153 countries and territories, and in 2024 alone 688 different substances were detected, the highest number in a single year so far.

Street drugs may come from illegal labs, be cut with other drugs or be sold under a false name, so one pill or bag can differ from another with the same name. The US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes that chemical testing has shown that what is sold as ecstasy may be cut with other drugs such as ketamine, amphetamine or methamphetamine, and that illegally made opioids such as fentanyl are increasingly turning up in the drug supply.

Ecstasy (MDMA) risks: dangerous overheating and the mood crash

Ecstasy, whose chemical name is MDMA, is known in Egypt, Tunisia and Lebanon as "hubub al-nashwa" (euphoria pills) or simply "ecstasy". Many young people think of it as nothing more than "a pill for staying up and having fun", but the risks of ecstasy (MDMA) go much further:

• Dangerous overheating: NIDA warns of a sharp, dangerous rise in body temperature, which is more likely with intense physical activity or in a hot place such as a crowded indoor party, and the UK government's FRANK service adds that dancing for hours in a hot atmosphere raises the risk of overheating and dehydration.
• Upset body salts: FRANK explains that ecstasy can make the body hold on to water and pass less urine, and drinking large amounts of water quickly can then upset the balance of salts in the blood in a way that can be fatal.
• The mood crash afterward: some people feel a clear drop in mood the next day, which can last several days. NIDA links ecstasy use to anxiety and panic attacks, and says people who use it regularly may have poor sleep, depression, and memory and attention problems.
• Unknown content: FRANK stresses that the amount of active drug in pills varies a great deal, and that some contain more dangerous substances that take longer to work, so a person takes more, thinking the pill has not worked, and ends up seriously poisoned.
• Possible addiction: NIDA says research suggests ecstasy is potentially addictive, although more studies are still needed, and FRANK notes that the body can get used to it and a person can become psychologically dependent on it.

Ketamine misuse: a medicine in hospital, a danger outside it

Ketamine, known by the same name in Egypt and the Gulf, is a real medicine with a recognized medical use: FRANK notes that it is used in medicine as an anesthetic for people and animals. That medical use happens in doctors' hands and under their monitoring, which is completely different from taking ketamine for fun or for a night out.

Outside that setting, ketamine misuse turns it into a harmful drug. According to FRANK, its harms include:

• Bladder damage: an urgent, frequent need to pass urine that can be very painful, sometimes blood in the urine, and damage that can become so severe that surgery is needed to repair the bladder or even remove it.
• Weaker memory and concentration with regular use, along with depression and low mood for days after taking it.
• Injuries and accidents: because ketamine dulls pain and cuts a person off from their surroundings, they can hurt themselves without noticing, or become unable to protect themselves from harm by others.
• Much greater danger when mixed with alcohol, sedatives, opioids or other drugs, which can be fatal.
• Psychological dependence: the body gets used to it, so over time the person needs more, and keeps taking it despite knowing the harm.

Nitrous oxide dangers: why laughing gas is not "harmless fun"

Nitrous oxide is known in Egypt and Morocco as "ghaz al-dahik" (laughing gas), and it spreads among some young people in balloons or small canisters as light fun that does no harm. The reality is different. According to FRANK, frequent, heavy use can cause vitamin B12 deficiency and anemia, and this deficiency can damage the nerves, causing numbness and tingling in the fingers and toes; severe damage can lead to paralysis, which may be permanent. Inhaling a lot of it can also cause loss of consciousness or suffocation from lack of oxygen, and some people have died this way.

A medical report published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science in 2022 describes the nerve and spinal cord damage caused by nitrous oxide as a growing public health problem among young people. It says the most common first signs are numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, after which a person may notice poor balance, increasing difficulty walking and muscle weakness. The good news is that most patients improve a great deal within months once they stop and get treatment, but some lingering numbness is not unusual, and lasting damage is more likely when help is sought late or use continues.

Pink cocaine (tusi) and other substances UNODC warns about

Pink cocaine, or "tusi", is a powder dyed pink, and the name itself is misleading. According to a scientific review published by Abukahok and colleagues in Current Addiction Reports in 2025, tusi is usually made of ketamine and ecstasy (MDMA), sometimes with other stimulants added, while most of it contains no cocaine at all. Its make-up changes from batch to batch, which makes its danger hard to predict: overheating, breathing problems and strain on the heart, as well as dizziness, hallucinations and loss of consciousness.

Among the most dangerous things UNODC is tracking today is a group of synthetic opioids called nitazenes. In February 2025, UNODC's Early Warning Advisory announced that this group already counts 26 different substances, detected in 30 countries across Europe, North America, Oceania, South America and Southeast Asia, with strong signs that they are spreading further. UNODC warns that many nitazenes can be even more potent than fentanyl analogues, that they are appearing in a large number of deaths, and that they have already caused clusters of poisonings in European countries such as Ireland and the United Kingdom. It also notes that an opioid poisoning can be reversed if the person is treated in time with an antidote medicine called naloxone, which is one more reason to call an ambulance straight away. And remember what we said about adulteration: someone who takes a pill or powder of unknown origin has no way of knowing what is inside it.

Synthetic cannabinoids are another large group: according to UNODC data for 2024, stimulants were the most commonly reported new psychoactive substances (33%), followed by synthetic cannabinoids (24%). Synthetic cannabinoids include what is known in Egypt as "strox" or "voodoo", which we cover in a separate article on strox and voodoo and their harms. UNODC explains that the legal status of these substances differs widely from country to country, and so do their street names.

Warning signs worth your attention

No single sign proves drug use, and many of these changes can have other causes. But when several signs come together and last, they deserve a closer look:

• A sudden change of friends or places to go out, coming home late, and extreme exhaustion the next day.
• Clear mood swings, especially low mood and withdrawal after weekends.
• Falling behind at school or work, and constantly asking for money without a clear explanation.
• Balloons, small metal canisters, colored powders or unfamiliar pills among their belongings.
• Complaints of pain or frequent trips to pass urine, numbness in the hands or feet, or memory problems.
• Excessive secrecy about their phone and their outings.

For a fuller picture, read our article on signs of drug use in teenagers. And if you are worried, a drug test at the center, for men and women, can help the doctor's assessment. But no test covers every substance, and a negative result does not always rule out use.

What to do in an emergency

Until the paramedics arrive, the UK's FRANK service advises the following:

• Do not leave the person alone, even for a moment, and stay with them until the paramedics arrive.
• If they are unconscious but breathing, put them on their side so their airway stays open and they do not choke if they vomit. If they stop breathing, start CPR straight away and ask the ambulance call handler to guide you step by step.
• If they feel very hot, move them somewhere cool and remove extra clothing. If they are panicking or hallucinating, take them to a quiet place away from bright lights and noise, talk to them calmly, and stay with them until they settle. If they do not settle, seem very confused, or might harm themselves or others, call an ambulance on 123.
• Do not give them coffee, alcohol, any medicine or any other substance yourself, and do not put them in a cold bath to bring them round: it wastes time and can put them at risk of drowning.
• Tell the paramedics everything you know about what they took, even if it is embarrassing; this information helps doctors treat them quickly.
• Collect any leftover pills, powders or packets you find with them and hand them to the paramedics to help them understand what happened.

How to talk to your child about new drugs without panic

Your first reaction on hearing these names may be fear, and that is natural. But conversations driven by panic or threats can push young people into silence and secrecy. Try these steps:

1. Choose a calm moment: in the car or on a walk, not when you are angry or straight after an argument.
2. Start with a question, not an accusation: "I've heard about something called laughing gas. Do your friends ever talk about it?" Then listen all the way to the end.
3. Give real information: explain that the biggest problem is that nobody knows what is inside the pill or powder, and that "not banned" or "natural" does not mean "safe".
4. Agree on a safety plan: reassure them that they can call you at any time if they or a friend are in danger, that at that moment your priority is their safety, not punishment, and that calling an ambulance on 123 straight away is the right thing to do if someone passes out or struggles to breathe, even if they are afraid of the consequences.
5. Keep talking: one conversation is not enough. An ongoing conversation builds trust.

If you find out that your child is already using drugs, our article on supporting your family member without enabling helps you balance firmness with warmth.

When should you get help, and how does treatment work?

Get specialist help if the drug use happens again, if you notice a decline at school or work, if physical symptoms appear such as urinary problems or numbness, or if changes in mood worry you. Do not wait until you are completely sure: an early assessment is easier and makes the road shorter.

Treatment usually starts with an appointment with a doctor to assess physical and mental health, and the doctor may ask for tests of the bladder, the nerves or vitamin B12 depending on the substance used. The doctor then agrees the right plan with the family: follow-up at the clinic with psychotherapy sessions, or a stay in the rehabilitation program when the drug use is more severe. If your child is also using alcohol, sedatives or opioids, tell the doctor, because stopping these substances should not happen at home alone, but with an assessment and medical supervision. Oxygen Center's services are for people aged 15 and over (under 18 with a guardian's consent), and the center has no services for children under 15; if your child is younger, see a pediatrician or a child psychiatrist. Inpatient stays are for males only, while doctor appointments, psychotherapy sessions, behavior-modification sessions and drug tests are available to men and women. The family can come alone first if their child refuses to attend, and family counseling is part of the program.

If your child talks about death or about wanting to harm themselves, take it seriously. Ask them calmly and clearly what they are thinking, listen without blame, and do not leave them alone. If they have harmed themselves or may be about to, call an ambulance on 123 straight away (or your local emergency number outside Egypt) or take them to an emergency department. If not, still get help straight away: the Ministry of Health and Population's 24/7 mental-health hotline on 16328, or Oxygen Center's emergencies line on +20 100 006 6752.

In Egypt, the Fund for Drug Control and Treatment of Addiction runs a hotline on 16023, open around the clock, for confidential treatment through its partner centers. Recovery is possible, and every early step protects your child's health and future.