Every day, new drugs and drug combinations emerge. One particularly dangerous concoction is called purple drank. People often portray this beverage as harmless, but it’s actually risky and can lead to addiction. Find out why purple drink is really just codeine addiction under a new name.
What’s in Purple Drank?
Purple drink goes by names like lean drug, lean or sipping syrup. It looks like a purple soft drink, but the ingredients are far more harmful.
Typically, purple drink is a base of a lemon soda like Sprite or 7-Up mixed with prescription-strength cold medicine that contains codeine. Users then add ice and hard candies to chill the drink and add more sweetness. Most users sip the drink through a straw over the course of several hours.
The soda, ice, and sugar aren’t the problems. Instead, the biggest concern is the codeine. This is a narcotic drug. Any time a person consumes opiates, there’s a risk that they could develop an addiction.
The Nature of Codeine
Codeine helps increase tolerance to pain. When people use it inappropriately, like in a beverage such as purple drink, codeine has no benefit. Instead, every sip of codeine increases the chance that users develop a dependence upon it.
Codeine changes the way that the brain functions. When you consume codeine, the brain releases a wave of chemicals that mask pain and create temporary euphoria. Eventually, the only way to feel happiness or comfort is through codeine. That’s the very basic explanation of a codeine addiction.
Worse still, codeine tolerance can rise quickly thanks to purple drink. Since every cup of the drink is different, it’s hard to know how much you’re actually consuming. Excessive consumption only speeds up the development of an addiction.
Why Purple Drink is so Dangerous
Purple drink is most dangerous because it contains codeine. However, part of the problem is that it appeals to many young people. There’s a misconception that the purple beverage is safer than other types of drugs. In reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Consuming lean drink can cause a number of unpleasant side effects. Lean can cause muscle pain, dizziness, blurred vision and slurred speech. It can also lead to nausea, constipation or abdominal cramping. Over time, it causes dental decay, weight gain, and urinary tract infections. That’s all in addition to the tremendous risk of codeine addiction.
Treatment for Purple Drank Addiction
If you have an addiction to purple drink, then you also have an addiction to codeine. Fortunately, you can overcome this drug addiction. First, patients need to detox in a medically supervised program and work through withdrawal symptoms. Then, they can begin addiction treatment.
Just some of the methods addiction treatment centers use to treat a codeine addiction include:
- Cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapy
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Individual and group therapy
- Experiential therapy
- Holistic approaches to recovery
Purple drank is not fun, safe or cool. It is codeine addiction under a new name, and it is incredibly dangerous. End your active addiction for good at Pinnacle Peak Recovery in Scottsdale, Arizona. Take the first step toward sobriety by calling 866-377-4761 today.
