In the event you haven’t heard of a drink known as lean, your teen probably has. It’s additionally known as sizzurp, purple drank and syrup—as in, it should make you lean over.
The drink has been round for some time. It’s possible turn into in style 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 probably 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 medication in it, which could encourage somebody to drink extra of it. And consuming massive quantities may 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 techniques, have an effect on the guts, and trigger seizures.
When promethazine and codeine are used collectively and never below supplier’s orders, the combination could be harmful. It may well sluggish the operate of the mind, sluggish respiration, cease the guts 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 advocate 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 all the time, when you have questions on sizzurp or some other drug-related questions, please don’t hesitate to name Cincinnati Youngsters’s Drug and Poison Data Middle at 1-800-222-1222. We’re right here 24/7 that will help you.
Concerning the writer: 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 Data Middle Hotline at Cincinnati Youngsters’s.