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Most often, you hear about lean in hip-hop songs and pop culture. What you don’t hear about is how drinking lean can affect a person’s body, life, and overall well-being. In reality, the effects of lean can be detrimental and even life-threatening.
So, what does lean do to your body? Let’s talk about what lean is and what drinking lean does to the body. Then, we will discuss treatment options and how to take the first step toward accessing care.
Lean refers to a combination of prescription-strength codeine cough syrup and soda. In addition to soft drinks, some people add hard candy or alcohol to lean, though not always. Sometimes, lean is also called “purple drank,” “dirty sprite,” or “sizzurp.” Codeine is an opioid that blocks pain, causes euphoric effects, and slows the functioning of one’s central nervous system.
When a physician prescribes codeine, it is for short-term use only. Unfortunately, it’s highly addictive, and misuse of the substance can result in a number of different physical and cognitive consequences. The lack of readily available and accurate information surrounding codeine use is not just a disservice but also harmful.
Let’s do what we can to address this, and get you to help if you are struggling with ‘purple drank’ or prescription cough syrup in any form.
When used as directed, codeine can relieve pain and is an effective cough suppressant. The fact that a physician can prescribe codeine and that it’s available over the counter in some areas does not mean that it’s safe, especially in large doses or for long-term use.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) website, deaths that involved opioid overdose rose from 46,802 in 2018 to 49,860 in 2019. Many people who consume lean do so for the euphoric and sedative effects of codeine, but the fact of the matter is that it can threaten a person’s life.
Effects of drinking lean include:
Some people wonder, “Are prescription cough syrups really that habit-forming?” Unfortunately, yes. Though it doesn’t happen overnight, codeine addiction can develop rapidly. Regardless of if codeine addiction progresses quickly or slowly over time, severe consequences can take place.
Drinking lean can lead to death if a person’s heart rate or blood pressure gets too low or if they do not take in enough oxygen to stay alive, and of course, there is the risk of overdose. Lean overdose can lead to a coma, if not death. Sometimes, drinking lean leads to the consumption of other opioids (e.g., heroin). If someone does drink codeine with alcohol, the combination of mixed depressants can be particularly dangerous.
The high from codeine only lasts for roughly four hours. Some people build a tolerance, which may be part of why the overdose risk is so high. To get the desired effects, someone may consume codeine in high doses or repetitively throughout the day. Withdrawal symptoms can start within as few as around eight hours after someone takes their last dose of the drug.
People of all demographics and backgrounds can develop a substance use disorder. That said, some populations are at a higher risk of developing an addiction to lean. The glamorization of codeine usage in pop culture and social media plays a role in who is at the highest risk, which is something to consider. Often, songs, social media posts, and other forms of entertainment mention “lean drink” casually and without discussion of the adverse effects.
Though Lil Wayne does not advocate vocally for purple drank these days, he did struggle for many years with using codeine cough syrups as a recreational drug. In addition to Lil Wayne, the rapper ‘Pimp C’ unfortunately overdosed on promethazine and codeine cough syrup, with sleep apnea also playing a role. Codeine works as a central nervous system depressant and can lower respiratory functions to a dangerous degree.
Teens and young adults, people who consume other drugs, and professional athletes may all be at a higher risk for codeine addiction or misuse. Similarly, those who have other mental or behavioral health issues, such as bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD, a personality disorder, or an anxiety disorder, are at an increased risk for substance abuse at large, which can include the use of lean. The same is true for individuals of lower socioeconomic status.
Misuse of codeine can start in a variety of ways, whether that’s a prescription, pressure from peers, or something else. Young people may consume a ‘lean drink’ with friends or at a party without knowing the effects. Although lean addiction is not due to the media alone, the normalization of using codeine or combinations of multiple depressants (e.g., codeine and alcohol) does not help.
With all of that said, it’s possible to overcome lean addiction no matter who you are. If left untreated, the misuse of codeine can not only sabotage personal health but also has the potential to destroy interpersonal relationships, education, involvement with work or hobbies, and other significant elements of a person’s life.
There are numerous treatment options for codeine addiction. The right treatment option for one person will vary from that of another. What the best course of treatment is for an individual will change based on a range of factors. For example, how long they’ve misused prescription strength cough medicine, if they engage in the consumption of other recreational drugs besides lean, and whether there are comorbid mental health issues to address. The length of treatment will also differ from client to client.
Treatment for codeine addiction can entail any of the following:
Prior to entering a treatment center, some people go to a detox center first. A medical detox center isn’t the same as a treatment facility. Instead, it is a place to get off a substance safely with the supervision of qualified professionals. Withdrawal from codeine is unpleasant, and it can be particularly dangerous for certain populations, in which case, detox may be necessary. Those who consume large doses may also be more likely to require detox.
Inpatient treatment is a common option for people with substance use disorders. This form of care removes a client from their daily life environment, which can support recovery tremendously, especially in the beginning. Inpatient treatment often involves:
Before someone leaves inpatient treatment, staff will set an individual up for success by making sure that they have outpatient care. This could mean that someone moves from an inpatient program to a partial hospitalization program, for example, and will ease down to lower levels of support in time. If someone has a comorbid or co-occurring mental health condition, a dual diagnosis facility or program will typically be most advantageous. In many cases, facilities will have alumni programs for those who have completed treatment.
Note that not everyone who uses codeine will require inpatient care. Some people start with and find success with outpatient care alone. As with anything else, recovery is an individual process.
Whether outpatient treatment is the form of care someone enters initially or is one that they stepped down to in time, it is also research-backed and effective for substance use disorders. One benefit of outpatient care is that a client gets to live and sleep at home. For those who don’t require hospitalization and feel that outpatient care is right for them, it may be an ideal option.
Outpatient care is usually more affordable than inpatient care. Depending on the model of a person’s outpatient program and their unique needs, they might work with professionals for treatment, engage in groups, and complete other activities their program involves for around three to five days per week. In any case, all programs and treatment centers are different.
Individual therapy is exactly what it sounds like. In individual therapy, a client works with a licensed therapist one-on-one to discuss their goals, move toward those goals, and talk about what’s on their mind. Frequently, forms of therapy such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) are used to treat substance use disorders, though other modalities can be valuable, too. Someone may pursue individual therapy on its own, or they might see a therapist for individual therapy as part of their inpatient or outpatient treatment program.
Similar to individual therapy, group therapy is almost always a part of treatment programs for substance use. Therapy groups can center around the development of coping skills that help a person navigate triggers, emotional processing, co-occurring concerns like trauma, or something else. At times, clients will take part in multiple therapy groups at once.
Like individual therapy and group therapy, family therapy can help people recover from substance use disorders. In family therapy, a therapist works with the entire family unit and considers the collective family unit their client while in session. Also similar to individual and group therapy, family therapy can be conducted in an inpatient or outpatient setting, and it’s often part of a person’s treatment plan when they are in inpatient or outpatient care.
Examples of goals for those in family therapy may include helping family members understand and support an individual facing codeine addiction, working with a family to improve communication or move toward a more harmonious relationship, and more.
Peer-reviewed studies show that support groups can aid the recovery process, increase the probability of positive outcomes, and can be cathartic for individuals with substance use disorders. A support group is not the same as group therapy because a support group doesn’t need to be led by a mental health professional. While they can be physician-led, support groups can be (and often are) led by peers. Generally, support groups are free. Some groups are open, meaning that you can join at any time, whereas others are closed.
There are also support groups designed for the loved ones of those who face substance use disorders. Support groups for friends and family can be both comforting and healing. You can attend these groups whether or not your loved one is currently getting help for substance abuse.
If a person consumes lean on an ongoing basis, they may experience codeine withdrawal when they stop ingesting the substance. Withdrawal isn’t fun, but it is important to remember that it doesn’t last forever. What can individuals expect during codeine withdrawal?
When someone gets off of codeine, they may experience the following symptoms:
Everyone will experience symptoms of withdrawal at varying rates. Pharmacological interventions can help with the withdrawal symptoms individuals experience when they get off of opioids, including codeine. Anti-vomiting medications, methadone or buprenorphine, over-the-counter pain relief medications such as ibuprofen, and other medications may be used.
The right mental health support can aid clients as they move through the challenging process of overcoming lean addiction and getting to a better place. If you or someone you know is experiencing concerns related to substance use, whether that’s codeine or another illicit substance, know that it is possible to find help.
Gaining access to care may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.
Our goal at Rehabs Of Armerica is to make it easier to get treatment. Whether you need to find an addiction treatment center in your area or want to learn about recovery tools and resources, our hotline phone number is available 24/7.
We’re here to help individuals seeking addiction treatment for themselves or a loved one. Find Addiction Rehabs can even help you verify your insurance.
If you’re ready to take the first step, call us for a confidential consultation today!
Edward lives and works in South Florida and has been a part of its recovery community for many years. With a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Massachusetts, he works to help Find Addiction Rehabs as both a writer and marketer. Edward loves to share his passion for the field through writing about addiction topics, effective treatment for addiction, and behavioral health as a whole. Alongside personal experience, Edward has deep connections to the mental health treatment industry, having worked as a medical office manager for a psychiatric consortium for many years.
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