Lean is an illicit drink that usually contains cough syrup with codeine, soda, and candy. It can also be made with alcohol, antihistamines, and other substances. The growing popularity of lean can be at least partially attributed to its glamorization in popular culture. However, this drug should never be glorified, as using lean can have fatal consequences.
This article will explore what lean is and explain the risks of using it. Plus, we will discuss how ANR treatment can help you if you’re struggling with lean dependence or addiction.
What Is Lean?
Lean is a dangerous recreational beverage that typically combines codeine cough syrup with soda, such as Sprite or Mountain Dew, and hard candy like Jolly Ranchers. It is also known as:
- Sizzurp
- Dirty Sprite
- Purple drank
Answering the “What is lean?” question with precision can be tricky, as some variations of this polydrug cocktail may include alcohol, hydrocodone cough syrup, and/or the antihistamine promethazine, among other substances.
Since it is typically made with cough syrup containing the opiate codeine, the effects of lean are similar to those of other opioids. It induces intense euphoria and deep relaxation, causing users to lean on one side—which is also how lean got its name. The onset of its effects depends on the ingredients used, but they usually kick in within roughly half an hour and last up to six hours.
First popularized in the hip-hop music scene of Houston, Texas, in the 1990s, “purple drank” has been glamorized in popular culture for decades.
A study by Georgia Southern University researchers even found a correlation between musical preferences and the use of lean. While the preference for rap/hip-hop music is a risk factor for using lean, those listening to rock/alternative music are also more likely to use it than others.
Meanwhile, Joseph J. Palamar from the New York University Langone Medical Center found that even though electronic dance music (EDM) party attendees are at high risk for using drugs, they are less likely to use lean compared to other drugs, such as ecstasy.
Now that you know what lean is, let’s discuss its side effects.
Side Effects of Using Lean
Common side effects of using lean include:
- Nausea
- Shaking
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Constipation
- Blurred vision
- Slowed breathing
- Difficulty urinating
Lean can also cause hallucinations, allergic reactions, and other serious adverse effects. Plus, it can impact your coordination and judgment. You shouldn’t drive or operate heavy machinery under the influence of lean, as this increases the likelihood of accidents and injuries.
Seizures are also among the most common adverse effects of lean; the rapper Lil Wayne, for example, has been hospitalized for lean-induced seizures multiple times throughout his life. If you experience any severe side effects after using this polysubstance drink, it is critical to seek medical attention.
Furthermore, long-term use of lean increases the risk of:
- Tolerance and opioid dependence
- Codeine overdose
- Fertility problems
- Opioid addiction
- Organ damage
- Dental decay
- Death
Now that you know what lean is and what side effects it typically causes, let’s learn more about its risks and dangers.
Risks and Dangers of Lean
The main risks and dangers of lean include respiratory depression, overdose, and death. It’s important to note that the effects and dangers of sizzurp may vary widely depending on the ingredients involved. Polydrug use, including the use of lean, can have unpredictable consequences.
Opioids like codeine can slow down your nervous system, suppress your breathing, and cause an overdose when taken in doses higher than prescribed. Mixing them with other substances, such as alcohol or other drugs, substantially increases this risk, which is precisely what makes lean so dangerous, even if codeine is among the least potent opioids.
Common drug overdose symptoms include:
- Confusion
- Weak pulse
- Pinpoint pupils
- Profound sedation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Discolored skin and lips
- Decreased blood pressure
- Slowed, shallow, or stopped breathing
- Difficulty staying awake, moving, or talking
If you notice any of these symptoms in yourself or someone else after using lean, call 911 immediately.
Getting prompt medical help is of vital importance; without it, a lean overdose can result in death. In 2023 alone, over 10,000 Americans lost their lives to an overdose involving natural and semi-synthetic opioids, including codeine.
Even those who survive it may suffer from lifelong consequences, such as brain or other organ damage. For this reason, you should never use lean or mix codeine with other drugs.
Furthermore, pregnant women using lean are at an increased risk of complications. Opioid use during pregnancy may cause your baby to suffer from neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), developmental delays, and behavioral problems. In severe cases, it can lead to stillbirth, miscarriage, and maternal death.
Is Lean Addictive?
Lean is addictive, mainly because of its opioid ingredient—codeine, an opium alkaloid that naturally occurs in the opium poppy plant.
Depending on the formulation, codeine cough syrups are classified as Schedule III, IV, or V controlled substances. For example, Robitussin AC® is treated as a Schedule V controlled substance, as it contains less than 200 milligrams of codeine per 100 mL. While this denotes a relatively low potential for abuse and addiction, such preparations can also be abused.
In fact, codeine is among the most commonly abused prescription opioids in the United States. In 2023, it was the third most frequently misused prescription pain reliever among Americans aged 12 and above, with 2 million people abusing codeine products.
The use of lean constitutes opioid abuse. While abusing opioids increases the risk of physical dependence and addiction, anyone taking codeine for a prolonged time can become dependent. This is because opioids gradually alter brain chemistry, reducing the production of endorphins and increasing the number of opioid receptors, which leads to building tolerance.
Opioid dependence refers to the physical reliance on drugs like codeine. Simply put, those who are dependent need to take opioids to prevent withdrawal symptoms and function normally.
If left untreated, codeine dependence can develop into an addiction, which is largely psychological. It impacts your ability to control your drug use; those addicted cannot quit opioids, even when using them destroys their lives. Luckily, professional opioid addiction treatment can help you overcome lean dependence and addiction.
ANR Treatment for Opioid Dependence
Accelerated Neuro-Regulation (ANR) is a state-of-the-art opioid dependence treatment that can help you overcome codeine dependency safely, quickly, and effectively. Developed by Dr. Andre Waismann, this method has supported nearly 25,000 people in making a lasting recovery.
ANR is the first and so far only treatment for opioid dependence that targets its root cause instead of merely managing its symptoms. By re-regulating the endorphin-receptor system, this treatment reverses the damage repeated opioid exposure causes to the brain. As a result, it facilitates long-lasting recovery by restoring the nervous system to a pre-dependence state.
Most importantly, ANR is performed in an ICU setting of fully accredited hospitals with advanced medical equipment, ensuring patient safety throughout the procedure. The ANR team includes highly experienced and compassionate board-certified anesthesiologists, critical care physicians, and other healthcare professionals.
Benefits of Undergoing ANR Treatment
Some of the greatest benefits of undergoing ANR treatment include:
- Safety. The safety of ANR is proven scientifically. Unlike traditional methods, Accelerated Neuro-Regulation therapy offers a personalized approach, tailoring the treatment to each patient’s medical history and needs. As a result, it can be safely performed on almost everyone, including those with complex medical conditions.
- Effectiveness. The secret to ANR’s effectiveness and unparalleled success rate lies in the fact that this is the only treatment that addresses the neurobiological causes of opioid dependence. In doing so, it eliminates opioid withdrawal symptoms, negating the risk of relapse.
- Short treatment duration. With an average hospital stay of only 36 hours, ANR treatment can help you break free from opioid dependence within a matter of days, even if you’ve been battling it for years.
Reclaim your life with ANR by contacting us today and booking a free, 100% confidential consultation.
Key Takeaways
Hopefully, this article helped you better understand what lean is and the dangers associated with it.
If you believe you may be dependent or addicted to it, know it’s never too late to turn your life around. The key is to seek comprehensive lean addiction treatment.
Finally, let’s reiterate what lean is and other key points we covered today:
- Lean is a potentially deadly polysubstance beverage that may include codeine cough syrup, soda, candy, alcohol, and other ingredients.
- The dangers of lean include severe side effects, such as seizures, pregnancy complications, respiratory depression, opioid dependence and addiction, overdose, and death.
- ANR is a highly effective and safe treatment that eradicates opioid dependence by rebalancing the endorphin-receptor system.
What Is Lean FAQ
Lean can be more dangerous than other opioids because it often contains alcohol and other substances that may interact with opioids. The effects of opioid abuse, which encompasses the use of lean, can be life-threatening; it can lead to respiratory depression and a potentially fatal opioid overdose.
What lean does to your body is similar to what other opioids do, as lean usually contains cough syrup with codeine, among other substances. Therefore, it can cause euphoria, relaxation, difficulty breathing, confusion, constipation, and nausea, among other side effects.
ANR is suitable for lean addiction. ANR treatment can help you recover from all types of opioid dependence, including codeine and hydrocodone dependence. This treatment works through endorphin-receptor modulation, allowing you to return to an opioid-free life within days.
The symptoms of withdrawal from lean include flu-like symptoms, cravings, depression, insomnia, and diarrhea, among others. Seeking professional help for codeine withdrawals is critical, as these symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable, increasing the risk of relapse and overdose.
Keep in mind, though, that treating withdrawal symptoms isn’t enough to eradicate opioid dependence. Therefore, not all opioid withdrawal solutions and opioid dependence treatments are quite effective.
How long it takes to recover from lean addiction depends on individual factors, such as the extent of your drug use and the opioid dependence treatment you opt for (if any). With ANR treatment, you can recover from lean addiction within a matter of days.
ANR differs from other opioid treatments in that it acknowledges and targets the neurobiological causes of opioid dependence by modulating the endorphin-receptor system. Therefore, this innovative method eradicates opioid dependence together with withdrawal symptoms and cravings, enabling you to forget about the fear of relapse.
