What is Purple Drank?

Not a day goes by that some street chemist isn’t busy in their drug lab. They are trying to come up with the latest designer drug people can use to destroy their lives. In recent years, we have seen an epidemic created by the use of prescription drugs like Oxycontin. We have seen meth and heroin continue to be a menace to society. In the late 1990s, we even saw the introduction of wild concoctions like purple drank. So, what is purple drank?

What is Purple Drank?

In a predictable twist of fate, the US party scene is always in search of the latest and greatest party drug. So, what is purple drank? In Houston, Texas in the late 1990s, members of the hip-hop scene combined codeine cough syrup with a mixer like Sprite or 7-up and a Jolly Rancher hard candy. They called it the purple drank. The purple is indicative of the substance’s color due to the codeine cough syrup. While it might seem innocent enough, the “chemist” used a high dosage of cough syrup as the base substance. As we all know, codeine is an addictive opiate and very dangerous when abused.

What are the Dangers Related to Drinking Purple Drank?

Now that we have answered the question, “What is purple drank,” also referred to as lean drink, let’s look at the dangers associated with people abusing it. We have already described its addictive nature due to the amount of codeine being used. In fact, codeine is the primary issue.

When prescribed by a physician, codeine acts on the central nervous system to combat pain and suppress the need to cough. When people abuse this substance, it can act on the central nervous system to create serious issues. That might include cardiac, breathing and anxiety issues. Any attempts a user makes to stop using purple drank after abusing it for a substantial period of time subjects them to equally dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Treatment for an Addiction to Purple Drank

At Beaches Recovery center in Jacksonville, Florida, we are able to treat addictions to most any substance. If you need help with the detox process, we offer detox programs. From there, our counselors will customize each patient’s treatment program around the following options:

• Residential drug rehab
• Outpatient care
• Partial hospitalization program
• Dual diagnosis treatment when necessary
• Aftercare programs

If you find yourself addicted to purple drank or any other harmful substance and want a way out, help from Beaches Recovery is available. You can start the recovery process by placing a phone call to our facility at 866.605.0532. Through your commitment and focus, there’s an excellent chance we can work together to get you squarely on the road to recovery. With continued diligence, it could be addiction recovery that will last you a lifetime.