If you haven’t heard of a drink referred to as lean, your teen more than likely has. It’s additionally known as sizzurp, purple drank and syrup—as in, it’ll make you lean over.
The drink has been round for some time. It’s seemingly change into widespread as a consequence of being glamorized in songs, rap movies, and social media posts. High-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. While 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 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 harmful medication in it, which could encourage somebody to drink extra of it. And consuming giant quantities may result in an overdose of codeine and promethazine.
WHY ARE CODEINE AND PROMETHAZINE HARMFUL?
Codeine is an opiate and is classed as a narcotic managed substance. It is in the identical household of medication as morphine and could be addictive. It is used for ache aid and to suppress coughing.
Promethazine has sedative properties. It is prescribed to assist with nausea, vomiting, movement illness, and ache. When used recreationally (which means, for enjoyable), promethazine can decelerate the central nervous and respiratory programs, have an effect on the guts, and trigger seizures.
When promethazine and codeine are used collectively and never underneath supplier’s orders, the combination could be harmful. It can sluggish the perform of the mind, sluggish respiration, cease the guts and lungs from working, and could be lethal.
SO WHAT CAN PARENTS DO ABOUT IT?
While 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 baby about it. Help them perceive how harmful it’s by speaking about how addictive it may be and that it may be deadly. And give them some examples of how to “just say no” at events.
As all the time, when you’ve got questions on sizzurp or another drug-related questions, please don’t hesitate to name Cincinnati Children’s Drug and Poison Information Center at 1-800-222-1222. We are right here 24/7 that will help you.
About 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 Information Center Hotline at Cincinnati Children’s.