Drug Education Articles

DRUG EDUCATION ARTICLES


  1. Getting off the Weed, Withdrawal
  2. Is Medical Marijuana Beneficial for Cancer Patients?
  3. What is the Drug "Lean"
  4. What is Ear Wax aka Hashish
  5. Dangerous Drugs Marketed As Bath Salts
  6. Salvia a Dangerous Hallucinogen
  7. Spice and K2

What is Lean?

A frequent question I get from students is, "What about Lean?" Lean is a mixture of promethazine with codeine, Sprite soda and Jolly Rancher or Skittle candies. Lean is usually purple because of the promethazine with codeine (cold/cough medicine). It sometimes goes by the name Purple Drank.

A powerful cough and cold medicine, Promethazine helps relieve congestion and stuffy nose. Codeine is a powerful painkiller and cough suppressant.

The Sprite soda and Jolly Rancher or Skittle candies are used to take away the nasty and bitter taste of the promethazine.

When was it first created and who uses it?

Lean was created in Houston Texas. It became very popular in the 1990's among young people in the underground rap scene. It was made popular by a Houston Texas music producer named DJ Screw who promoted it in his music. He died from an overdose of purple drank on November 16, 2000.

Because of its wide spread use and promotion by rap artists' the use of Lean is more popular than ever among young people throughout the world.

What are the short term and long term effects of Lean?

Because there are two separate drugs in Lean there are side effects from both the promethazine and the codeine.

Promethazine side effects may include dizziness, blurred vision, rapid heartbeat, insomnia, dry mouth, constipation, impotence and depressed respiration.

Codeine side effects may include dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, shortness of breath, vomiting, abdominal pain, allergic reaction (hives), depressed respiration and if used often leads to addiction.

Can you overdose on Lean?

The answer to this question is 100% YES. Whenever two or more drugs are taken at once, the effects of each can be intensified. Both of these drugs affect the respiratory system by depressing normal breathing. This puts the person at great risk of slipping into a coma or going into cardiac arrest (heart attack) which can lead to death.

Will Lean show up on a drug test?

This is a common question among people who use Lean; will it show up on a drug test? The answer to that question is also YES.

Codeine is an opiate derived substance which means it will show up positive on a drug test for opiates (narcotics) the same test which would show the presence of heroin.

Conclusion-

Each and every person is responsible for making their own decisions when it comes to what they put into their bodies. The only way to make good informed decisions regarding drug use is through good solid Drug Education. Knowledge Equals Power!