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Lean, also known as Purple Drank or Sizzurp, is a concoction made of codeine and the antihistamine promethazine that is combined with soda, cough syrup, candy, and in some cases, alcohol.
Mixing codeine with other substances is incredibly dangerous and poses a great risk to those who consume lean.
Lean is highly addictive. It comes with serious health effects, including respiratory depression, overdose, and in some cases, death.
Lean has been around in some form since the 1960s, but it became more popular in the late 1990s when rappers started to reference it in their songs.
One of the most well-known rappers who promoted lean in their music was DJ Screw, who later overdosed on a codeine mixture himself.
Since then, it has continued to rage in popularity among young people, despite its tragic consequences.
When consuming lean, users often report feeling mild euphoria, relaxation, sleepiness, or like they’re “walking through a dream.”
They also may feel dissociated from their body, causing difficulty with motor-skills. Some people experience feelings of dizziness and blurry vision soon after drinking lean.
Since lean works by affecting the central nervous system, it slows down brain activity and causes sedative effects.
Lean is usually made from codeine and promethazine mixed with soda or candy to sweeten the taste of the beverage.
The candy-like sweetness of the drink makes it appealing to young people.
Some users also add alcohol to the mixture, which can be incredibly dangerous since both substances sedate the nervous and respiratory systems.
Different versions of lean can contain a cough syrup ingredient known as dextromethorphan (DXM), found in over-the-counter medications such as Delsym DM, Robitussin Nighttime, and Cough DM.
Lean usually tastes very sweet because it is often mixed with soda or candies.
Depending on what a person mixes in it, they may taste more syrup, alcohol, or menthol.There may also be a slight medicinal aftertaste due to the cough syrup.
The mix of syrup, soda, and candy often gives lean its characteristic “purple drank” color.
The sweet taste of lean can give people a false sense of safety, hiding the dangerous ingredients in the drink. Because it tastes like candy, users are more likely to drink huge amounts without realizing the risk they are taking.
The sugar in lean may also play a role in making it such an addictive substance.
First, the sweet flavor gives the brain a quick hit of dopamine, which is the chemical that makes the drinker feel pleasure and reward, encouraging them to keep drinking it.
Second, the codeine in the cough syrup creates a calm, euphoric feeling. The brain then connects the sweet taste with this relaxing high, which makes the craving even stronger.
Together, these effects make lean both physically and mentally addictive, raising the chances of addiction and long-term use.
Yes, lean is a drug because it contains codeine and the antihistamine promethazine.
Codeine is the main active ingredient that makes lean dangerous, as it’s an opioid that can lead to feelings of euphoria and relaxation.
Even though its components, like cough syrup, are legal when prescribed, using them in a way that’s not directed by a doctor—such as in lean—makes it illegal and harmful.
Codeine, one of the main components of lean, is an opioid classified as a Schedule II controlled substance.
Lean is believed to have developed around the 1960s, however, it wasn’t known nationally as a dangerous drug until the early 2000s when there was an increase in overdoses that considered health and law officials.
The main ingredient, codeine, was classified as a Schedule II substance in the early 1970s, which means it is officially recognized as having a dangerously high risk of being abused.
There isn’t an official “generic” name for lean, as it’s not a medically recognized or legal drug. However, the generic name for the cough syrup used in lean is typically referred to as “codeine and promethazine syrup.”
Lean is most commonly called by various street names. The most widely used term is “lean,” but it’s also called “purple drank,” “sizzurp,” or “dirty Sprite.”
Lean is almost always consumed in liquid form, though it may have pieces of candy such as jolly ranchers mixed into the drink.
Yes. Lean is highly addictive and has led to many overdose deaths.
When a person drinks lean, it affects the brain’s reward system, causing them to seek the drug again for its pleasurable effects.
This addiction can drive them to drink high amounts, sedating their nervous system and increasing the risk of shutting down functions the body needs to survive.
The main ingredients in lean, codeine, increase the levels of dopamine in the brain and can cause a person to feel rewarded for drinking lean, which can quickly lead to addiction.
Prescription opioids like codeine are highly addictive and have a similar origin to that of heroin.
Users who consume codeine frequently can build up a tolerance and begin to drink larger amounts of lean.
This can lead to physical dependence on the drug and a higher risk of overdose.
Lean is often made to appeal to young audiences through music, cultural pressures, and the addition of candies and sodas.
Teens and young adults are at a crucial stage of brain development, which can make the risk of severe addiction even higher than the average adult.
When the body becomes dependent on codeine a number of uncomfortable physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms can occur if the drinking stops.
Feelings of euphoria, physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms, and social pressure work together to make it difficult or even dangerous for an individual to quit using lean.
It’s important to seek professional help if you or a loved one are struggling with addiction to lean drink.
Yes. Lean is considered a hard drug because its main ingredient, codeine, is an opioid.
Opioids are considered hard drugs because of their dangerous effects and potential for addiction.
Lean can make a person feel euphoric, relaxed, drowsy, and almost detached from the body. It does so by sedating the body and reducing the communication between the nervous system and the brain.
The codeine in lean is an opioid that binds to receptors in the brain to block pain signals and produce a sense of calm and euphoria.
This is similar to the effects seen with other opioids, like morphine or heroin, though typically milder at first.
In addition to the euphoric and sedative effects, lean can also cause dizziness, confusion, slowed heart rate, and impaired motor skills.
Users may find it difficult to concentrate or stay awake, as the drug can induce extreme drowsiness or even “nodding off,” where a person drifts in and out of consciousness.
Codeine, a main component of lean, is a Schedule II controlled substance, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and has limited use for medical purposes.
Many of the ingredients in lean require a prescription and have a high risk of misuse when used without the guidance of a medical professional.
Some side effects of lean can include:
These side effects usually occur within 30 to 45 minutes of ingesting lean drink depending on the levels of ingredients used to mix the beverage. They typically peak around 1 to 2 hours after consuming the drink and will continue for 4 to 6 hours.
If side effects continue feeling severe for a long period of time, or you notice a loved one acting overly sedated or “nodding off,” seek emergency medical care.
When a person drinks lean, they can experience changes in their heart rhythms, breathing, temperature, and consciousness.
Lean contains prescription opioids that are used for their sedative effects and for relieving pain.
Promethazine, another main component of lean, can also cause sedation and impaired motor skills.
It can also cause severe constipation, vomiting, and seizures.
Yes. Consuming lean is dangerous and can lead to serious and sometimes life-threatening effects.
Sometimes, people add alcohol to their lean, which can increase the risk of serious, permanently damaging side effects and overdose.
Mixing alcohol with cough syrup can also result in respiratory depression. This can reduce the amount of oxygen that is entering the brain, which can lead to organ damage, coma, and in some cases, become fatal.
Some effects of adding alcohol to lean can include:
Yes. Lean can take a toll on both your physical and mental health.
Drinking lean alters the natural functions and chemicals in the brain, which can affect how a person thinks, feels, and acts.
Some people start using substances like lean to cope with difficult feelings while only worsening them over time.
When a person drinks lean, they may feel good for a temporary period of time, but after, they often experience low moods, anxiety, and irritability.
Common short-term side effects of lean abuse can include:
Lean drink abuse can lead to numerous long-term side effects, including:
When a person develops a tolerance and dependence on lean, they can also experience withdrawal symptoms that include:
Common symptoms of a lean overdose include:
If an individual is experiencing a lean overdose it is critical to seek immediate emergency medical care as their life may be in danger. An overdose may lead to damage of the brain or other organs, coma, or death.
If someone is overdosing on lean, it’s critical to act quickly to save their life. Here’s what you should do:
1. Call 911 Immediately
2. Administer Naloxone (Narcan) if Available
3. Monitor Their Breathing and Pulse
4. Place Them in the Recovery Position
5. Stay with Them Until Help Arrives
Avoid:
Acting quickly during an overdose can make the difference between life and death. Even if you’re unsure whether it’s an overdose, it’s always better to seek help immediately.
Lean is most commonly used by teenagers and young adults, according to Addictive Behaviors.
Lean has been popular in the hip-hop music scene and used in settings like music events and electronic dance music (EDM) parties.
Combinations such as cough syrup, sprite, and jolly ranchers can increase the appeal of purple drank to younger and younger people.
Individuals who drink lean may see the benefit of lean as a relaxation aid or as a way to feel happy and light.
However, these effects are only temporary. Lean is not beneficial to a person’s health and is, in fact, dangerous and damaging.
Often, the goal of drinking lean is to produce feelings of euphoria and relaxation.
Purple drank, or Purp is another term for lean.
Other names for lean include:
The term “lean” comes from the position that people who use it commonly end up in after drinking it. The term “purple drank” comes from the characteristic purple color given by the mix of cough syrup, candy, and soda.
However lean can also appear in different colors depending on what exactly was added to the codeine syrup.
Purple drank refers to the drug “lean.” The name “purple drank” is sometimes used because the cough syrups that are mixed into it are often purple.
To make purple drank, people usually mix cough syrup that contains codeine and promethazine with hard candy and lemon-lime sodas, such as Sprite.
Although, it is not always purple and can vary in color.
Some people also add other ingredients, such as alcohol, juice, or melatonin.
However, it is important to be are that adding other ingredients to lean can make it even more dangerous than it already is.
Lean often has a lot of sugar because it is mixed with soda and candy.
However, even with the high amount of sugar, lean still makes a person feel drowsy because of the sedative effects of codeine and promethazine.
Purple drank can sometimes contain alcohol, caffeine, and sugar.
One of the main ingredients, codeine, can be found in urine for up to 48 hours after the last use of the drug. In saliva, it can be detected until around 21 hours and 10 weeks in hair.
The length of time that lean stays in a person’s system also depends on various factors, including their age, weight, how frequently they use the drug, and how much they drank.
Yes. A person who uses lean over time can develop a tolerance to it, they will then experience withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea or tremors, when they try to stop using it.
Depending on the severity of addiction, withdrawal symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable or even life-threatening.
If you are experiencing withdrawal while trying to quit lean, it is important to reach out to a professional provider or rehab facility in order to protect your health and encourage long-term recovery.
Effects of a lean withdrawal can include:
If you’ve been using lean regularly, your body may become physically dependent on it.
This means you need lean to feel normal, and stopping its use suddenly can trigger withdrawal symptoms like nausea, anxiety, sweating, and cravings.
Detox helps manage these symptoms in a controlled, safe environment.
To know if a person needs detox from lean, they should seek help from a medical professional.
In order to detox from lean safely, you need to consult with a medical professional to make sure that you are not putting your health at risk.
Withdrawal symptoms may be severe at times, so it is important to have proper medical supervision to manage symptoms safely.
To help manage withdrawal symptoms that may come from lean, medications like Methadone and Buprenorphine work by blocking the effects of opioids and minimizing withdrawal symptoms.
Codeine is an opioid that is used as a pain reliever for mild and moderately severe pain.
It is also sometimes combined with other medications to reduce coughing.
When codeine is used as a pain treatment, it changes the way the nervous system responds to pain, and when it is used for coughing, it decreases activity in the part of the brain that contributes to coughing.
Codeine is also sometimes combined with acetaminophen for cough and cold medication.
Promethazine DM has a combination of promethazine and dextromethorphan.
DM, which stands for dextromethorphan, is a non-narcotic cough suppressant, and promethazine is an antihistamine that treats allergies.
Promethazine can cause a person to feel dizzy, drowsy, and sleepy.
It is recommended not to drive a car or operate machinery until you know how it affects you and after consulting with your doctor.
Additionally, when you take promethazine with other drugs, it can cause severe drowsiness that is more extreme and lasts longer than normal.
Mixing promethazine with other drugs also increases the risk of adverse effects and overdose.
Dextromethorphan is used to temporarily help relieve cough that is caused by conditions like the common cold or flu.
Dextromethorphan belongs to a class of medications known as antitussives and works by decreasing the activity in the area of the brain that triggers coughing.
People sometimes mix cough syrups containing dextromethorphan into their lean.
The best treatment for lean addiction is the one that fits the individuals needs the best. This usually involves some form of drug detox.
There are a variety of treatment options available for lean addiction, including inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, and support groups.
Treatment for lean addiction starts with detox to help the body safely get rid of the substance.
Treatment for lean addiction commonly involves medication in combination with psychotherapy or talk therapy to help a person understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and to help them build healthy skills and coping mechanisms.
The level of care a person needs for a lean addiction is entirely dependent on their needs.
What works for one person may not be what works for another.
Usually, a person will have to go through a medically-supervised detox to help them safely manage their withdrawal symptoms.
A person who is in need of a high level of structure and support may benefit from inpatient or residential care.
For someone who may require a little more flexibility but still needs care and support, outpatient treatment may be beneficial, like day treatment or intensive outpatient treatment (IOP).
To figure out what level of care is best, reach out for professional help to guide and create a plan of action.
Sometimes, it can be hard to know if a loved one is facing challenges with substance abuse and addiction.
Some signs to look out for when it comes to lean addiction can include:
If you believe a loved one may be facing challenges with lean addiction, talk to them and seek professional support.
Educating yourself and learning more about lean addiction can help you better understand how to help.
Lean is highly addictive and consuming lean can become life-threatening. It is important to seek help for lean addiction. Sandstone Care is here to support teens and young adults with mental health and substance use disorders.
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