Probably the most famous celebrity known for abusing Syrup was rapper Lil’ Wayne. Currently serving time in prison, in this interview with MTV from February 2008, he talked candidly about how he was being pressured to quit by those around him, and how he couldn’t go cold turkey because of the painful withdrawal symptoms. His resistance to everyone around him, denial, and fear of withdrawal are such common to the theme of someone who needs help with recovery that it is a shame he wasn’t able to get the help he needed.
Purple Drank Sippin Syrup
The newest prescription drug craze to be gaining in popularity is the abuse of prescription cough syrup containing Promethazine with Codeine. Due to the arrest of former number one draft pick JaMarcus Russell, the drug has gained such recent notoriety that we feel a little more information needs to be made available on the subject.
The newest prescription drug craze to be gaining in popularity is the abuse of prescription cough syrup containing Promethazine with Codeine. Due to the arrest of former number one draft pick JaMarcus Russell, the drug has gained such recent notoriety that we feel a little more information needs to be made available on the subject.
What is Purple Drank?
Purple Drank is a concoction of the prescription cough syrup Promethazine with Codeine, typically mixed with a soda, like 7-Up or Sprite, or with an alcohol like gin or vodka. This leaves the drink a pink-purple color. Some recipes call for the addition of a Jolly Rancher, which adds another color, thus the drink is sometimes referred to as “Rainbow Colors”.
Promethazine with Codeine is typically prescribed as a powerful cough suppressant, but when taken in sufficiently high doses can lead to sleepiness, altered thoughts, and impaired motor functions which often lead to a shuffling gait or “lean” to one’s walk.
What does it look like?
Promethazine with Codeine comes in prescription bottles and is normally a dark purple color. When mixed with clear beverages it will lighten to a pink color. Other variations of the drink use other, over-the-counter cough syrups, so they may range in color and strength.
What are its street names?
- Purple Drank
- Rainbow Colors
- Lean
- Sip-Sip
- Sizzurp
- Syrup
- Drank
- Purple Jelly
- Texas Tea
What substances are in a lean drink?
Lean is the name of a recreational drink composed of soda, such as Sprite, 7-Up, or Mountain Dew, plus an over-the-counter cough syrup that contains an antihistamine called promethazine, as well as other over-the-counter cough syrups containing codeine. The combination of ingredients, which often includes hard candy, results in a purple colored concoction that is consumed with the intent of achieving a dissociative euphoric high.
Codeine-containing medications are used to treat a variety of symptoms, including cough, diarrhea and low-level pain. Codeine is a Schedule II substance, meaning that it has a high potential for abuse, possibly resulting in addiction or dependence. In medications that contain 90 milligrams or less of codeine, the classification is Schedule III, designating a slightly lower risk of abuse.
Lean burst onto the party scene in the late 1990s when popular rap and hip hop artists — particularly based out of Houston — glamorized the drink in their lyrics and videos. These celebrities gave young people a false sense of safety by featuring lean-infused party references without any emphasis on the potentially harmful consequences of using the substance. Unfortunately, several artists eventually lost their lives due to the effects of this dangerous beverage.
Lean is known by a variety of slang terms, including:
- Purple drank
- Texas tea
- Sizzurp
- Dirty Sprite
- Purple lean
Because the cough syrup is mixed with soda and fruity candy, the individual may not notice the sedating effects sneaking up on them, and may continue to consume more.
The effects of lean may last for 3-6 hours and include:
- Euphoria
- Dissociative (out of body) sensation
- Dreamy sensation
- Relaxation
Lean remains a popular beverage among teens and young adults. Young people tend to combine the use of lean with other substances, such as marijuana or alcohol, to intensify the effects of the high. At high doses, lean can slow the central nervous system to the point where the heart and lungs will stop functioning, causing death, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Different versions of lean
In addition to the promethazine-based versions of lean, there are other cough syrups used in lean drinks that contain an ingredient called dextromethorphan, or DXM. These products are sold under the brand names like Robitussin Nighttime Cough DM and Delsym DM, as well as some generic products that feature both the promethazine and DXM ingredients.
In fact, DXM is available in over 140 products distributed as over-the-counter medications. When used in lean drinks, the effect is referred to as “robotripping,” a nod to the Robitussin cough syrup used in the drink.
When the DXM products are misused recreationally, they can cause dangerous adverse effects. At high doses, DXM causes effects similar to the hallucinogenic drug, PCP, causing psychosis, psychophysical dissociation, violent behaviors, high body temperature and even cardiac arrest.
Another version of lean uses codeine-infused prescription cough syrup instead of, or in addition to, the over-the-counter version that contains the promethazine or DXM. Even though cough syrups that contain codeine are more tightly controlled, they are available with a prescription and can be misused. Codeine is a lower-potency opioid that binds to the opioid receptors in the brain, which can increase the risk of developing physical dependence. However, because these codeine-infused cough syrups are harder to obtain, syrups containing DXM or promethazine have largely supplanted them for the purpose of making lean.
Signs of lean overdose
Lean drinks pose significant risks due to the sedating effects of the ingredients. Depending on the type of lean drink that is consumed, the effects will vary slightly. But all varieties of the lean concoctions, when consumed at high doses, pose an overdose risk because they are all central nervous system depressants.
Some of the warning signs of lean overdose include:
- Heart arrhythmia
- Decrease in blood pressure
- Significant sedation
- Loss of coordination
- Loss of inhibitions; risky behaviors
- Slowed breathing; shortness of breath
- Extreme lethargy
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
Lean overdose can lead to brain damage, organ damage, coma, or death.
Lean drinks may adversely interact with certain psychiatric medications, such as MAOI antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or benzodiazepines. Lean can also interact with herbal supplements, like melatonin or valerian root. These interactions can increase the risk of overdose.
