Should you haven’t heard of a drink referred to as lean, your teen most probably has. It’s additionally known as sizzurp, purple drank and syrup—as in, it can make you lean over.
The drink has been round for some time. It’s doubtless change into widespread as a result of being glamorized in songs, rap movies, and social media posts. Excessive-profile athletes have additionally made headlines for suspensions and hospitalizations associated to utilizing this drink.
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS LEAN?
Lean is a drink consumed at events to get excessive. Whereas it might sound and look harmless, it’s something however. This harmful drink comprises a doubtlessly lethal mixture of prescription cough syrup containing promethazine with codeine, a mixing agent (most frequently a fruit-flavored soda), and a bit of sweet dropped in for flavoring and shade.
The drink is especially regarding for a few causes. The sheer sweetness of purple drank masks the damaging medicine in it, which could encourage somebody to drink extra of it. And consuming giant quantities might result in an overdose of codeine and promethazine.
WHY ARE CODEINE AND PROMETHAZINE HARMFUL?
Codeine is an opiate and is assessed as a narcotic managed substance. It’s in the identical household of medication as morphine and could be addictive. It’s used for ache aid and to suppress coughing.
Promethazine has sedative properties. It’s prescribed to assist with nausea, vomiting, movement illness, and ache. When used recreationally (that means, for enjoyable), promethazine can decelerate the central nervous and respiratory methods, have an effect on the center, and trigger seizures.
When promethazine and codeine are used collectively and never beneath supplier’s orders, the combination could be harmful. It might probably gradual the perform of the mind, gradual respiration, cease the center and lungs from working, and could be lethal.
SO WHAT CAN PARENTS DO ABOUT IT?
Whereas prescription drug abuse is an ongoing and pervasive downside, the hazard of getting it in a tasty combine raises concern for each dad and mom and healthcare professionals.
Armed with the methods by which teenagers are referring to this drink, we suggest speaking to your youngster about it. Assist them perceive how harmful it’s by speaking about how addictive it may be and that it may be deadly. And provides them some examples of how to “simply say no” at events.
As at all times, when you’ve got questions on sizzurp or some other drug-related questions, please don’t hesitate to name Cincinnati Kids’s Drug and Poison Info Middle at 1-800-222-1222. We’re right here 24/7 that can assist you.
Concerning the creator: Sheila Goertemoeller, PharmD, D.ABAT
Sheila Goertemoeller, PharmD, DABAT, ICPS, is a pharmacist and medical toxicologist. She has greater than 20 years of expertise on the Drug and Poison Info Middle Hotline at Cincinnati Kids’s.