Lean Drink: Definition and Risks of Sizzurp (Purple Drank)

Lean drink, a dangerous mixture of prescription cough syrup containing codeine and promethazine combined with soda, creates a euphoric effect. At the same time, its accessibility from grocery stores makes it particularly appealing to young users who are unaware of the associated risks.

According to Ware, O. D.’s 2024 study, ’Codeine and promethazine: Exploratory study on “lean” or “sizzurp” using national survey data and an online forum’, lean use demonstrates clear demographic patterns with NSDUH data revealing prevalence among teenagers and young adults (ages 13-21) who constitute 66% of users, predominantly males (75%), and distributed across Black/African American (29%), Hispanic (28%), and White (33%) populations. The Reddit sample corroborated male predominance (67%) while revealing concerning behaviors, including high rates of concurrent substance use (83% with alcohol, 46% with cannabis), severe lean use disorder (66% of respondents), and dangerous activities such as driving under the influence (37%).

Lean drink is known on the streets as Purple Drank, Sizzurp, or Purple Tonic, and it has gained widespread popularity among younger audiences. However, despite its allure, it poses severe health risks and results in fatal consequences.

Social networks and cultural trends normalize codeine use, particularly in “Lean” mixtures, encouraging misuse among young adults. Online platforms and celebrity endorsements often glamorize Lean, failing to emphasize its highly addictive and dangerous nature.

What Is Lean Drink (Purple Drank)?

Lean drink is a dangerous concoction made from prescription cough syrup combined with soda. The cough syrup contains codeine, a potent opioid, and promethazine, a sedative. Together, these ingredients create a euphoric effect for the user. The soda serves to mask the taste, making it more palatable.

According to Ware OD.’s 2023 study, ‘Lean/Sizzurp Ingredients, Use, and Coping With Mental Health Symptoms. Subst Abuse.’, lean/sizzurp consumption varies significantly across user groups and contexts. Most users incorporate codeine (74.5%) in their mixture, while fewer include promethazine (31.7%), with only 13.5% using the traditional combination of both substances together. Previous studies have found varying prevalence rates, with 6.5% of college students in the southeastern United States and 15.5% of electronic dance music party attendees in New York City reporting lifetime use. The research also identified distinct patterns in coping behavior, with individuals experiencing anxiety or trauma and females being more likely to lean towards managing emotional distress.

One of the reasons for its popularity is its accessibility. Users often obtain the ingredients from a grocery store without needing to interact with drug dealers. This convenience makes Lean particularly appealing to young users who do not recognize the risks involved.

What Are the Potential Side Effects of Lean?

The potential side effects of lean include seizures, hallucinations, paranoia, and more. Here are the common side effects of lean:

• Seizures: Sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain leading to convulsions or loss of consciousness.
• Hallucinations: Perceptions of sights or sounds that do not exist, resulting from altered mental states.
• Paranoia and fears: Intense feelings of distrust or anxiety about others, often leading to irrational fears.
• Disorientation and confusion: A state of mental uncertainty or inability to recognize surroundings or comprehend situations.
• Long periods of coughing: Prolonged coughing episodes that indicate respiratory irritation or distress.
• Drowsiness or extreme fatigue: A significant decrease in energy levels, resulting in excessive sleepiness or lack of alertness.

Is Sizzurp Dangerous Because It Contains Codeine?

Yes, Sizzurp is dangerous because it contains the opioid codeine and promethazine. Codeine in Sizzurp (also called Lean) depresses the central nervous system, slowing breathing and reducing alertness, which significantly increases overdose risk. 

When codeine combines with promethazine—another ingredient in Sizzurp and a sedating antihistamine—the depressant effects become even more dangerous, causing impaired motor function, extreme drowsiness, and hazardous interactions, especially when mixed with alcohol or other depressants. Codeine’s addictive properties lead to rapid tolerance and dependency, often causing users to increase their doses over time. 

Additionally, Sizzurp’s formulation evades detection in standard drug tests, allowing for prolonged misuse without immediate consequences. These factors contribute to severe short-term dangers like respiratory failure and long-term health complications, including cognitive impairment and organ damage.

Can Lean Kill You?

Yes, Lean drink is fatal. Despite its popularity, Lean drink is an extremely dangerous substance with the potential to cause life-threatening health complications. Its primary components—codeine, a powerful opioid, and promethazine, a sedative—are both highly addictive and toxic when consumed in large amounts.

What Are the Treatment Options For Lean Addiction?

Treatment options for lean or Sizzurp addiction include therapy interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and art therapy to help individuals address underlying causes and develop healthy coping mechanisms. For teens and young adults who commonly abuse lean, specialized treatment programs are available at licensed outpatient and inpatient facilities that work closely with families as part of their treatment planning. 

These programs are gender-specific to better address the unique needs of individuals dealing with substance use or mental health disorders. For adults struggling with lean addiction, a medically supervised detox is often necessary to manage withdrawal symptoms safely, with 24/7 monitoring by trained medical staff. 

After detox, patients continue treatment in either inpatient or outpatient settings, where a multidisciplinary team of nurses, psychiatrists, therapists, and other professionals help address the root causes of addiction and build proper coping mechanisms for maintaining sobriety after treatment. Support resources include rehab directories to find local treatment facilities and services to assist with treatment costs.

Does Lean Make You High?

Yes, Lean makes you high. The primary components of Lean—codeine and promethazine—work together to create a euphoric and sedative effect, which many users describe as feeling “high.” 

While Lean does create a high, it comes at a significant cost. Users often find themselves trapped in a cycle of addiction, chasing the euphoric effects while exposing their bodies to severe health risks like respiratory depression, organ damage, and overdose. If you or someone you know is using Lean for its highs, consider seeking professional help to prevent long-term harm.

What Does Lean Taste Like?

Lean is characterized by a distinctly sweet, syrupy flavor. Its taste primarily comes from the cough syrup component—which contains codeine and promethazine—blended with soda and often flavored with grape or cherry additives. This mixture creates a candy-like, sugary profile with an underlying medicinal bitterness that some find off-putting yet oddly appealing. The syrupy consistency intensifies the sweetness, while the soda helps to balance the bitter notes of the medicine. Overall, the flavor is unique, merging sweet, fruity notes with a hint of chemical tang that sets it apart from other beverages.

What Does Lean Feel Like?

The effects of lean are sedative and calming. Users often report a profound sense of relaxation and mild euphoria, accompanied by drowsiness and a heavy, almost floaty feeling. Physically, it led to slowed motor responses and a sense of detachment from the environment. Many describe the experience as entering a dream-like state where time seems to slow down and sensations become muted. While the initial high is pleasurable for some, it is frequently accompanied by impaired coordination and, in some cases, nausea or dizziness. The intensity and specific effects vary based on dosage, individual tolerance, and the context of use.

Is Lean Addictive?

Yes, lean is addictive. Its primary ingredient, codeine, is an opioid known for its high potential for dependence and abuse. With repeated use, individuals develop tolerance, meaning they need larger doses to achieve the same effects. This progression quickly led to both physical and psychological dependence. Users experience cravings and withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking it, reinforcing the cycle of addiction. The sedative and euphoric effects that initially attract users become a driving force behind regular use, even in the face of negative health or social consequences. This addictive potential is a significant concern among medical professionals and public health experts.

According to Palamar J. J.’s 2019 study, ’Use of “Lean” Among Electronic Dance Music Party Attendees, ’ several key risk factors increase the likelihood of Lean (Sizzurp) use. Individuals who engage in nonmedical prescription opioid use face nearly 11 times higher odds of using Lean. Black participants, those identifying as bisexual, and adults ages 24-25 and 29-40 demonstrated significantly elevated risk. Educational attainment serves as a protective factor, with college graduates showing lower odds of use. These findings highlight specific demographic groups that prevention efforts should target, as frequent use of this codeine-containing beverage leads to dependence.

What Are the Other Names Of Lean?

Lean is known by several slang terms like “purple drank” and “sizzurp,” alluding to the drink’s signature purple color and syrupy consistency that reflect its appearance and method of preparation. Other colloquial terms include “drank,” “dirty sprite,” and “purple lean.” These names are widely used in popular culture and music, particularly within certain hip-hop communities where references to the concoction are common. Each term highlights a different aspect of the drink, from its visual cues to its method of consumption.