When you haven’t heard of a drink known as lean, your teen most probably has. It’s additionally known as sizzurp, purple drank and syrup—as in, it would make you lean over.
The drink has been round for some time. It’s possible turn out to be standard 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 accommodates a doubtlessly lethal mixture of prescription cough syrup containing promethazine with codeine, a mixing agent (most frequently a fruit-flavored soda), and a chunk of sweet dropped in for flavoring and colour.
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 might be addictive. It’s used for ache reduction 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 programs, have an effect on the center, and trigger seizures.
When promethazine and codeine are used collectively and never beneath supplier’s orders, the combination might be harmful. It may sluggish the operate of the mind, sluggish respiratory, cease the center and lungs from working, and might be lethal.
SO WHAT CAN PARENTS DO ABOUT IT?
Whereas prescription drug abuse is an ongoing and pervasive drawback, the hazard of getting it in a tasty combine raises concern for each mother and father and healthcare professionals.
Armed with the methods by which teenagers are referring to this drink, we suggest speaking to your little one 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 the way to “simply say no” at events.
As at all times, 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.
In regards to 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.