But treatment for substance and alcohol use disorder is available and recovery is possible. The primary drug in lean is codeine, a prescription opioid-based painkiller that is highly addictive and potentially life-threatening if misused. In the United States, codeine is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance. This means it has some medical utility but a high potential for abuse and addiction. Rapper Future was one of the main proponents of drinking lean, recording a song called Codeine Crazy to illustrate the effects of lean. Chicago rapper Juice WRLD died after taking an overdose of codeine.

Lean, Purple Drank, Sizzurp: A Dangerous Teenage Drink

He claimed that he started using the drink called lean after listening to Future’s music. Future has now stopped drinking lean, despite concealing his abstinence from fans for some time. While the antihistamine promethazine alcohol storage has relatively low addiction rates, the opioid codeine is highly addictive. Codeine binds powerfully with opioid receptors in the brain, quickly causing physical dependence and addiction in lean users.

Common Names for Lean

Another limitation is the Cronbach alphas are lower than ideal in this exploratory study. The use of probability sampling methods in future studies about lean use is also warranted to represent the population. Although lean is consumed internationally,3,16,20 and has visibility in popular culture,4,9-12 it remains vastly understudied. While “true” lean is a mixture of soda, candy, and codeine-containing cough syrup, this is not the only cough syrup street drug that is commonly misused.

Can drinking lean kill me?

Addiction to drugs containing opioids can be challenging to address, but it’s not impossible. If you or a loved one is addicted to drinking lean, treatment centers and healthcare providers are ready to help you regain control over your drug abuse. Contrary to what one might believe from its pop culture references, drinking lean can be very dangerous—largely due to the risk of overdose, addiction, and other health effects.

1. In the past, a drug called “lean” gained popularity among famous musicians for its sedative properties.
2. Codeine is an opioid, and the opioid addiction crisis has reached epidemic levels in the United States.
3. Many people take lean as a way to self-medicate stress, anxiety, and other mental health problems.
4. Pay less attention to what’s on MTV and more to what’s actually happening in Greater Cincinnati.
5. Keep in mind that patient confidentiality laws will prevent them from reporting this information to law enforcement.
6. A Current Obesity Reports study also warns of the dangers of heavy alcohol consumption, concluding that drinking around seven times a week or more is correlated with weight gain and increased risk of obesity.

Lean can increase anxiety and irritability as well as low mood and depression. Moreover, because the high that lean creates doesn’t last very long, people who take lean often develop a high tolerance. And this creates a vicious cycle that can lead to addiction and potentially overdosing.

Codeine is a Schedule II controlled substance, which means it has a high potential for misuse, drug dependence, and overdose in high doses. The high alcohol and brain fog risk of addiction means that lean is not safe as a recreational drug. This association was particularly significant for fans of rap and hip-hop.

Many lean users report using the mixture to relax and, over time, start to develop a dependence on the drug to relax and feel good. Lean is still used today, although its formulation sometimes changes to account for the scarcity and restrictions around codeine-promethazine cough syrup. Lean’s use had stayed confined to Houston until American rapper DJ Screw released songs in the 90s mentioning the drink, exposing the wider music scene to the mixture.

As lean slows down activity in the brain and nervous system, taking it with other drugs that have sedating effects can be especially harmful. Using any drug with lean may increase the risk of liver or kidney damage. As with other opioids, codeine can relieve pain and make a person feel more relaxed.

For many lean users, their first exposure to the mixture has been through rap and hip-hop music. Lean is often mentioned in the lyrics as a “cool” substance to abuse or a way to relax. Lean users sometimes view codeine-promethazine cough syrup as “better” than using opiates like heroin, as codeine is in liquid form and can be legally obtained through famous fetal alcohol syndrome adults prescription. Opioid rehab centers in the United States employ trained medical professionals experienced in helping clients overcome various opioid use disorders. If you or someone you know is drinking lean, it’s important to seek help sooner rather than later. Others use over-the-counter (OTC) cough syrup containing dextromethorphan (DXM) instead.

Long-term effects of misusing cough medicine are unknown, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Codeine, one of the active ingredients in lean, is a drug that has been misused for much longer than lean has been around. Lean is an illicit concoction or “cocktail” that dates back to the mid-to-late 20th century. It was originally popularized by musicians in Houston, Texas, as a mixture of Robitussin and beer.

American rapper Future spoke publicly about quitting lean, notably voicing his disappointment that American rapper Juice Wrld was influenced to try lean because of Future’s music. Dependency on Lean is characterized by a compulsive need to continue using the drug despite being aware of the adverse effects it has on one’s health and life. Addiction can manifest in various detrimental ways, impacting not only the physical health of the individual but also their mental well-being, relationships, and ability to fulfill responsibilities at work or school. Lean can become addictive due to the effects of codeine on the brain over time. When used as directed by a doctor, codeine can be safe and effective for its intended purpose.