Opioids
Purple Drank (Lean / Codeine Syrup)
Street names: Lean, Sizzurp, Dirty Sprite, Purple stuff
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Sedating euphoria, slowed perception, 'lean' body posture
- Rappers' culture drug
⚠Key risks
- RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION — the mix slows breathing; deaths (DJ Screw, Pimp C, many others)
- Promethazine potentiates codeine's respiratory danger
- Driving on lean = deadly
- Seizures from promethazine at high doses
- Youth culture glamour — sizzurp's musical marketing
✚Overdose signs
- Slow/shallow breathing
- Blue lips, unresponsive
- Pinpoint pupils
- Seizures
Category comparison — Opioids
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purple Drank (Lean / Codeine Syrup) | Schedule V | RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION — the mix slows breathing; deaths (DJ Screw, Pimp C, many others); Promethazine potentiates codeine's respiratory danger | Rx bottle $50–$300 diverted |
| Heroin | Schedule I | Extremely addictive — physical dependence in weeks; Overdose: breathing slows or stops | ~$10–$40 per bag |
| Fentanyl | Schedule II | Respiratory depression; Addiction in days | ~$20–$40 per counterfeit pill |
| Fentanyl HCl (powder) | Schedule II / analogue prosecutions | Lab-purity powder is far stronger than street mixes; Weighing errors are fatal | ~$60–$120/gram wholesale equivalent |
| Acetylfentanyl | Schedule I | ~5–15× weaker than fentanyl but still deadly at gram-level mistakes; Frequent cause of cluster overdoses | ~$25–$60/g where found |
| Furanylfentanyl (Fu-F) | Schedule I | Linked to hundreds of fatal overdoses 2016–2018; Potency similar to fentanyl | ~$20–$50/g |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Purple Drank (Lean / Codeine Syrup) look like?
Purple/pink cough syrup (codeine + promethazine) mixed with soda and candy; double-stacked cups
What are the signs of a Purple Drank (Lean / Codeine Syrup) overdose?
Slow/shallow breathing; Blue lips, unresponsive; Pinpoint pupils Call emergency services immediately and give naloxone if available — it reverses opioid overdoses.
How addictive is it?
RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION — the mix slows breathing; deaths (DJ Screw, Pimp C, many others) Dependence can develop with regular use.