Purple Drank, also known as Lean, Dirty Sprite or Sippin Syrup, is a combination of prescription cold medication, Mountain Dew or Sprite and Jolly Ranchers candy for color and taste. The effect of Purple Drank is to produce a sensation of euphoria and dissociation. Purple Drank is relatively easy to acquire but can lead to several terrible side effects and is very addictive, which is why you may need a substance abuse treatment center in Houston to kick it.
What is Purple Drank?
The active ingredient in Purple Drank is the cold medication containing promethazine (an antihistamine) and codeine. The effect is to produce a “swooning euphoria”.
In addition to the euphoric sensation, Purple Drank also produces a number of other side effects:
- Constricted pupils that don’t respond well to light
- Raspy voice and slow, slurred speech.
- Uncontrolled eye movements.
- Drowsiness
- Poor coordination
Purple Drank Overdose
Now that you know what is purple drank, it’s important to know that the codeine and promethazine can lead to an overdose. The symptoms of an overdose include:
- Hypothermia
- Athetosis-Writhing motions of the extremities
- Stupor
- Ataxia-Loss of voluntary muscle movement
- Coma
- Death
How Addictive Is Purple Drank?
Codeine, one of the active ingredients in Purple Drank is an opiate. Codeine binds to the opiate receptors, reducing the sensation of pain and inducing a sense of euphoria. Over time, users develop a tolerance to codeine, requiring a stronger dose to achieve the same high.
Purple Drank has become very popular in the Hip Hop culture and has even been mentioned in rap songs by Lil Wayne and Three Six Mafia. Its addictive nature and tendency towards overdose have also landed several famous people in the hospital. Lil Wayne, for example, was admitted to the intensive care unit in 2013, for seizures and unconsciousness and had to have his stomach pumped 3 times to clear his system.
Abuse Treatment
The first step in the treatment of Purple Drank is detox. Detox involves managing the withdrawal symptoms, so the individual can stop taking it with a minimal amount of discomfort.
The withdrawal symptoms associated are caused primarily by the codeine. The withdrawal symptoms include:
- Anxiety and Irritability
- Trouble sleeping
- Sweating
- Fast Heartrate
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Enlarged pupils
- Chills
Withdrawal symptoms with Purple Drank typically last a week or 2, but the cravings can remain for months. To treat your withdrawal symptoms, your doctor may prescribe a drug such as Methadone. Methadone is also an opioid, but milder than other opioids such as codeine. In an inpatient setting, the doctor will prescribe a dosage of methadone as a substitute, then slowly taper the patient off methadone to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
If you or someone you love is addicted to Purple Drank and lives in the Houston area, consider Serenity House Treatment Center in Houston Texas. In addition to medically assisted treatment for detox, we also offer evidence-based therapy to help you build coping mechanisms to remain drug-free. Give us a call today at 866.516.8356 to stop the nightmare of addiction.
