What Is Lean Drink?

Lean, also known as “purple drank,” is a dangerous drink that’s popular among young people despite its harmful outcomes. Lean drink is made by mixing prescription cough syrup with soda and candy, creating a sweet but toxic concoction. Although it’s heavily hyped and might seem harmless, drinking lean can lead to serious health consequences and addiction.

Understanding what lean is, what’s in lean, and how it affects the body can help you protect yourself and others from its dangers.

What is Lean?

Lean is a drink made by mixing codeine cough syrup with soda and candy [1]. This drink goes by other names, like “purple drank” or “sizzurp.” It has become popular in some music scenes and among young people, but it’s very dangerous. The codeine in cough syrup is a type of opioid [2] that can be very addictive and harmful when misused. Lean also often contains promethazine, an antihistamine that can induce drowsiness and euphoria.

When was Lean invented?

Lean has existed since the 1960s, when people first started mixing cough syrup with alcohol. However, it became more popular in the 1990s, especially in the hip-hop music scene. Rappers and other artists began mentioning lean in their songs, which made it more well-known and led to its widespread use. Despite its popularity, lean is not safe and can cause serious health problems.

What is Lean Used For?

Originally, cough syrup with codeine was prescribed by doctors to help relieve pain and reduce coughing. When people misuse it to make lean, they capitalize on its relaxing and euphoric effects. Some people drink lean to feel calm or escape their problems, but this feeling doesn’t last [3]. Instead, lean can quickly lead to addiction and other complications.

Why is it called Purple Lean?

Lean is often called purple lean because of the color of the cough syrup that is used to make it. The syrup is usually purple, so when it’s mixed with soda, the drink takes on a purple color – this is why people sometimes refer to lean as purple drank.

What does lean do to your body?

When you drink lean, the codeine in the cough syrup acts as a depressant of the CNS (central nervous system)[4], slowing down your brain and body. This can make you feel relaxed and sleepy, but it also slows your heart rate and breathing, which can be dangerous. The promethazine content also triggers drowsiness.

Over time, drinking lean can cause problems like dizziness, confusion, and even trouble breathing. It can also harm your liver, kidneys, and brain, leading to long-term health issues.

How much is lean?

The cost of lean can vary depending on where you get the ingredients. Since it’s made with prescription cough syrup, which can be expensive on its own, lean can cost over $100 on the streets. Some people even buy the syrup illegally, which is costly. On top of the cost of the syrup, you also need to buy soda and candy to mix it, making lean an expensive and risky habit.

Is lean dangerous?

Yes, lean is extremely dangerous. The main ingredient, codeine, is an opioid, which is a potent controlled substance that can be addictive and harmful. Drinking lean cough syrup can lead to serious health problems like breathing difficulties, seizures, and even death from overdose [5]. It’s also easy to become addicted to lean, which can ruin your health and affect all areas of your life. Despite how it might be portrayed in music or pop culture, there is nothing safe or cool about drinking lean.

Components of Lean

What is in lean, then? Lean is a mix of different ingredients that come together to create a dangerous drink. The core component is the cough syrup, which contains codeine, a drug that affects your brain and body. Many cough syrups also contain promethazine. People usually add soda and candy to make it taste better. This combination might seem benign, but it can lead to serious health risks.

What is Lean Made of?

Lean is made by mixing prescription cough syrup with soda. The cough syrup contains codeine, a painkiller that also helps to reduce coughing. Many cough syrups also contain promethazine, an antihistamine that can make you feel sleepy. To make the drink more appealing, soda is added—usually a lemon-lime flavor like Sprite or Starry. Sometimes, people add hard candy, like Jolly Ranchers, to make the drink sweeter and more colorful.

Common lean ingredients

The main ingredient in lean is cough syrup, which contains codeine. Codeine is an opioid, a type of drug that can be very addictive and dangerous if not used correctly.

Another common ingredient is promethazine, which may be included in the cough syrup or added separately. Promethazine can increase the drowsy effects of the codeine.

A sweet and fizzy soda, like Sprite or Mountain Dew, and candy are typically mixed in to give the drink a bright color and sugary taste.

While these ingredients might not seem dangerous on their own, mixing them together creates a drink that can be harmful and even deadly.

Types and Variants of Lean

Lean can be made in different ways, depending on the ingredients people use. The basic recipe is always the same—cough syrup mixed with soda—but some people add other things to change the taste or strength of the drink. These changes can make lean even more problematic and potentially lethal.

Different types of lean

The most common type of lean is made with codeine based cough syrup, soda, and candy. This version is often called purple drank because the cough syrup is usually purple.

However, some people use cough syrups with different ingredients, like DXM (dextromethorphan), instead of codeine. These versions of lean can have different effects and risks, but they are still very dangerous. Large doses of DXM can induce hallucinations [6], and using this form of lean is known as robotripping.

Another variant of lean might include adding alcohol to the mix, which increases the risk of serious health problems like respiratory depression (breathing difficulties) and overdose.

No matter how it’s made, all types of lean are harmful and can lead to addiction and severe health issues. Avoid the temptation to use this drug.

How to Make Lean | Warnings & Concerns

When making lean, people usually combine the codeine syrup with various sweets. No matter how it’s made, lean is a dangerous drug with serious consequences. The short-term effects might seem appealing, but the risks far outweigh any temporary pleasure. Stay safe by avoiding lean altogether, and if you know someone using it, encourage them to seek help.

Lean Effects and Experience

Lean can have powerful and dangerous effects on your body and mind, leading to both short- and long-term health consequences.

What Does Lean Do?

When you drink lean, the codeine in the cough syrup slows your brain and body. This can make you feel extremely relaxed and even sleepy.  The drug’s name originated from the way it makes people lean (or feel unbalanced) while under its influence. Some people say they feel a sense of euphoria or extreme happiness when they first drink lean. But, these feelings are temporary and come with serious risks. The more you drink lean, the more it can take control of your body, leading to damaging side effects and health problems.

Short-term & Long-term Effects of Lean

The effects of lean can occur in both the short-term and long-term, which can seriously affect your health. Understanding these effects can help you understand why lean is so dangerous.

In the short term, lean might seem to provide some desirable effects, but these come with serious risks:

• Drowsiness: Lean can make you feel tired and sleepy, which might seem relaxing but can be dangerous if you need to stay alert.
• Slowed breathing: The codeine in lean slows your breathing, which can lead to life-threatening respiratory depression, especially if you drink too much.
• Confusion and dizziness: Lean can cause confusion and dizziness, making it hard to think clearly or stay balanced, increasing the risk of accidents.
• Nausea and vomiting: Lean can upset your stomach, causing nausea and vomiting.

While the short-term effects are harmful enough, the long-term effects of lean are even more concerning. Over time, lean can cause permanent damage to your body and mind:

• Addiction: Prolonged use of lean can lead to dependence and addiction, making it difficult to quit without professional help.
• Organ damage: The codeine in lean can cause significant damage to the liver, kidneys, and brain, leading to severe health issues that might not be reversible.
• Chronic breathing problems: Continuous use of lean can result in ongoing breathing difficulties and respiratory issues, which can be life-threatening.
• Mental health decline: Lean can negatively affect your mental health [7], causing long-term mental health issues, including memory loss, depression, and anxiety.

The dangers of lean extend far beyond the initial high, affecting your health in ways that can last a lifetime. The more you understand these risks, the easier it will be to avoid lean altogether.

What Does Lean Feel Like?

How does lean make you feel, then? When someone first drinks lean, they might feel calm and relaxed. Some people describe the feeling as being “floaty” or in a dream-like state. This is because the codeine in lean slows down the brain and body, making everything feel slower and more peaceful. However, this calm feeling is misleading and temporary. As the effects deepen, they might start feeling extremely sleepy, dizzy, or even confused. What may start as a pleasant sensation can quickly turn into something much more dangerous when lean begins to take control of the body and mental clarity.

What does lean do to you?

Lean triggers both physical and mental effects. Physically, it slows down breathing and heart rate, which can be deadly. Over time, lean can damage your liver, kidneys, and brain, leading to long-term health problems that are difficult to treat. Mentally, lean can make you feel detached from reality, confused, and even anxious or depressed. As you continue to use lean, it can become harder and harder to stop, leading to addiction. Lean doesn’t just change how you feel in the moment – it can cause lasting harm that affects every part of your life.

Lean withdrawal symptoms

When someone who has been using lean regularly tries to stop, they might experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can be very uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous. Common withdrawal symptoms include strong cravings for lean, irritability, and anxiety. A person might also feel restless, have trouble sleeping, and experience muscle aches or stomach cramps. In more severe cases, withdrawal can lead to nausea, vomiting, and sweating. These symptoms make it hard to stop using lean on your own, which is why many people need professional help to overcome their addiction.

Statistics on Lean Addiction and Overdose

Lean addiction is a growing problem, especially among young people. Studies show that a significant number of teens and young adults have tried lean, often influenced by its portrayal in music and social media [8]. Unfortunately, this has led to a rise in lean-related overdoses [9]. The opioid in lean, codeine, is highly addictive and can easily lead to overdose if taken in large amounts or mixed with other substances like alcohol. The frequency of overdose deaths from lean is a serious concern and illustrates why greater awareness and prevention efforts are required.

Lean Appearance and Taste

Lean might look and taste appealing, but this is part of what makes it so dangerous. The drink’s sweet flavor and colorful appearance are misleading, hiding its’ harmful effects on the body.

What Does Lean Look Like?

Lean is usually a bright purple color because of the cough syrup used to make it. When mixed with soda and candy, the drink can appear fizzy and colorful, looking much like any other soft drink. This appearance can be misleading, making lean seem harmless or even fun, especially to young people. However, the attractive look of lean masks the serious risks involved in drinking it.

What Color is lean?

The color of lean is usually purple, which is why it’s often called purple drank. This color comes from the purple cough syrup used to make it. However, depending on the ingredients used, lean can sometimes be other colors, like pink or red. No matter the color, the dangers of lean remain the same.

What Does Lean Taste Like?

Lean has a sweet, fruity taste, thanks to the soda and candy mixed into it. The cough syrup can add a slightly bitter or medicinal flavor, but this is often masked by the sugar. The sweetness can make lean seem more like a treat than a drug, which is part of why it’s so appealing to young people. However, just because it tastes good doesn’t mean it’s safe – lean is highly addictive and harmful.

Legal Status and Concerns of Lean

The ingredients used to make lean, especially codeine, are strictly regulated because of their potential for abuse and addiction.

Is Lean Illegal?

Lean is illegal if it is made using prescription cough syrup without a valid prescription. Codeine, one of the main ingredients in lean, is a controlled substance, meaning it’s illegal to possess or use it without a prescription [10]. Making or drinking lean is considered drug abuse, and it can lead to serious legal consequences, including fines and jail time.

Lean Drug

Lean is often referred to as a drug because of the powerful, addictive effects of the codeine in it. Codeine is an opioid, a type of drug from the same class as morphine or heroin. When mixed with soda and candy to make lean, it becomes a potent and dangerous substance that can lead to serious health issues, addiction, and legal problems.

Does Promethazine DM have Codeine in it?

Promethazine DM is another type of cough syrup, but it does not contain codeine. Instead, it includes promethazine, an antihistamine, and DXM (dextromethorphan), a cough suppressant. While Promethazine DM doesn’t have the opioid effects of codeine, it can still be dangerous if misused, especially in large quantities or when mixed with other substances. Even without codeine, using Promethazine DM to make lean is risky and should be avoided.

Get Treatment for Drug & Alcohol Addiction at Renaissance Recovery

Are you or a loved one struggling with lean drug abuse? If so, reach out to Renaissance Recovery. We have luxury rehabs by the beach in California and Florida where we treat all addictions, including lean addiction.

The outpatient nature of treatment at Renaissance means you can carry on at home and work while dealing with substance abuse issues during weekday therapy sessions at one of our treatment facilities.

All addictions are different, so all treatment plans are personalized. Therapies for treating lean addiction may include:

• Talk therapies (CBT and DBT)
• Counselling
• Motivational therapies
• MAT (medication-assisted treatment)
• Group therapy
• Holistic interventions
• Family therapy
• Aftercare

Find effective lean addiction treatment by calling Renaissance at 866-330-9449

Sources

[1] https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj.q456

[2]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526029/

[3]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6175215/

[4]https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/cns-depressant

[5]https://medlineplus.gov/opioidoverdose.html

[6]https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/DXM-2020.pdf

[7]https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions/co-occurring-disorders

[8]https://pure.johnshopkins.edu/en/publications/codeine-and-promethazine-exploratory-study-on-lean-or-sizzurp-usi

[9]https://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijps/article/view/0/42126

[10]https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedules/schedules.html