Codeine is a prescription opioid that is a controlled substance in the U.S. The drug is prescribed to treat mild-to-moderate pain and as a cough suppressor. The high risk of addiction means that lean is not safe as a recreational drug.
Limit alcoholic beverages
An admissions representative can assist you in identifying signs of drug use, understanding the dangers of lean and locating a nearby rehab facility. Although codeine is less potent than morphine, it is a highly addictive opioid that can cause overdose. Due to these additive effects, purple drank has a high risk of overdose, which can be fatal. The rapper DJ Screw, who made purple drank famous in his songs, died from a purple drank overdose. Other celebrities, like Lil Wayne, were hospitalized due to overdosing on purple drank.
History of Purple Drank
To learn about treatment options for yourself or a loved one, call a treatment provider for free today. In addition to codeine and promethazine, lean can also include various other ingredients such as carbonated beverages (commonly soda), hard candies and even alcohol. These additional components may enhance the flavor, but they can also add to the potential risks and side effects of the drug. If a person has been consuming purple drank in high doses or for extended periods, withdrawal symptoms may intensify and become more unpleasant, including vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. This combination produces a sedative and euphoric effect when consumed in high doses. Lean’s primary ingredients include prescription cough syrup containing promethazine hydrochloride and codeine, a soft drink (usually Sprite or Mountain Dew), and ice.
Getting Help for Lean Abuse
It’s likely become popular due to being glamorized in songs, rap videos, and social media posts. High-profile athletes have also made headlines for suspensions and hospitalizations related to using this drink. Our free email newsletter offers guidance from top addiction specialists, inspiring sobriety stories, and practical recovery tips to help you or a loved one keep coming back and staying sober. In addition to managing a successful family medical practice, Dr. Hoffman is board certified in addiction medicine by the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM).
If you become dependent on opioids, you will experience aggravating withdrawal symptoms when you moderate or discontinue use. These effects range in severity from mild to severe, and even life-threatening. The risk of respiratory depression and coma is increased when lean is taken in high doses or when mixed with alcohol or other drugs.
The Coleman Institute has a 98% completion rate for our Accelerated Opioid Detox methodology using Naltrexone, a non-addictive opioid-blocking medication that can significantly reduce cravings. When lean is consumed regularly or in large doses, the brain becomes accustomed to the presence of opioids. Over time, the brain’s natural production of certain chemicals that regulate mood and pain perception, such as endorphins, may decrease. This can result in the individual feeling a diminished sense of pleasure and an increased need for lean to achieve the desired effects.
There hasn’t been significant research on treating lean or purple drank addiction specifically, but there have been a number of well-researched treatment options developed for treating opioid use disorder. Since codeine is the most significantly addictive element of lean, this approach makes sense. In addition to overdose risk, use of lean also increases your risk of accidental injury and other serious side effects. Opioids like codeine are the primary contributing factor to America’s addiction and overdose epidemic.
Lean, also known as purple drank, sizzurp, barre, and Texas tea, is a mixture of cough syrup, soda, hard candy, and sometimes alcohol. Both substances can affect a person’s breathing and have the potential to cause dangerous respiratory depression, especially if used with other drugs. Whether it’s called lean, purple drank, sizzurp, or any other name, this concoction is a drug that can be lethal in high doses or when mixed with other sedative drugs or alcohol. Using lean is dangerous for young adults who struggle with addiction and other mental health issues.
- Lean addiction is a serious health concern that poses significant risks to individuals who use it.
- But excessive amounts of codeine and promethazine can slow heart rate and breathing.
- High amounts of diet soft drinks have also been linked with liver disease, which is based on inflammation.
- Decreased heart rate and respiratory depression can both be dangerous on their own and are the primary cause of death by overdose.
- However, what may be even more of an influence is the prevalence of lean in pop culture, specifically in the music and entertainment industries.
In the United States, codeine is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance. This means it has some medical utility but a high potential for abuse and addiction. Despite its glorification in popular culture, drinking lean comes with a host of potential side effects and negative outcomes.
Our treatment programs are trauma-informed and support not only recovery from addiction, but also recovery from trauma and other diagnosed mental illnesses, like anxiety and depression. In addition, we provide withdrawal management (“detox”) at some of our esgic oral locations as part of our integrated approach. Recognizing a lean addiction is the first step towards seeking help and finding appropriate treatment options. It’s crucial to approach the situation with empathy, understanding, and a non-judgmental attitude.
After all, endless celebrities such as Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Justin Bieber, Future, and more have been seen sipping lean in their music videos or writing music about it. Recognizing the dangers of lean and seeking professional help are critical steps in overcoming addiction and promoting a healthier lifestyle. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction or dependence on lean, schedule a callback below to learn about the outpatient detox options near you. Unfortunately, codeine is just as addictive as other opioids and leads to the same physical dependence and addiction. Additionally, research shows that individuals with mental health conditions (such as depression or anxiety) are more likely to use a substance like lean to curb the side effects of their mental illness. When soda is mixed with codeine cough syrup to create lean, it often results in a liquid with a purple or pink hue — hence, the name purple drank.
However, the reality is that lean can look like almost any color depending on what soda or beverage it was mixed with. Codeine is an opioid painkiller that is used in a variety of medications, but which also has a high potential for misuse and addiction. In particular, prescription-strength cough medicine containing codeine may be misused in the form of a narcotic drink known as Lean (or as purple drank). Because there are many negative side effects of using lean that affect both mental and physical health, it’s important that young adult lean users seek treatment as soon as possible. We specialize in the intensive outpatient treatment of opioid addictions at our luxury beachside rehab.
However, purple drank’s other ingredients like promethazine can also cause slowed breathing. Codeine and Sprite became a popular mixture salt loading for bromine detox why iodine can change the world among illicit drug users in Texas in the 1990s. Also known as “purple drank,” this combination is a way to abuse codeine and get high.
You can feel high from codeine because it converts into morphine once it reaches the brain. The drug then binds to opioid receptors, triggering a flood of feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine. This leads to euphoria and other pleasant feelings, as well the twelve steps alcoholics anonymous as drowsiness and even sedation. Promethazine, a popular additive to lean, intensifies the effects of codeine. As lean slows down activity in the brain and nervous system, taking it with other drugs that have sedating effects can be especially harmful.
