The intoxicating drink that is gripping South African teens
'Lean', an intoxicating drink of codeine mixed with a soft drink or alcohol, has long been abused by South Africans, and still today, its effects are seen throughout neighbourhoods.
'Lean', 'Purple drank, 'Sizzurp' and 'Dirty sprite' are all names referring to a drink most commonly made of cough syrup or other medicine containing codeine and 'Sprite'.
Codeine is a mild painkiller that falls under opioid drugs.
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According to Daily Maverick, opioid medications can give individuals a "pleasurable high". The drugs help your brain release "feel-good" chemicals, which can also make individuals feel drowsy.
These effects occur, especially when mixing 100ml of cough syrup that contains codeine with a 2-litre soft drink of alcohol.
Unfortunately, medication containing codeine is easily accessible in South Africa, which is why it is commonly abused, especially by younger individuals.
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Codeine is also highly addictive as regular use could lead to your brain needing more of it to get high.
According to the American Addiction Centre, the side effects of drinking lean can be fatal. Other side effects also include:
- Dizziness
- Slowed heart rate
- Slowed breathing
- Constipation
- Dental decay
- Weight gain
- Urinary tract infections
- Impaired vision
- Memory loss
- Hallucinations
- Seizures (in at-risk individuals)
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