Is cough syrup cocktail addiction becoming rampant on the West Rand?
The mixture is potentially deadly.
Known as ‘Lean’, ‘Purple Drank’, ‘Sizzurp’ and ‘Dirty Sprite’, among other things, it seems that the addiction to a dangerous cocktail of codeine-containing cough syrup mixed with fizzy drinks is out of control in Witpoortjie, especially among teenagers.
According to the aunt of a boy in a well-known high school in the area, it seems that this addiction is rampant in this school. (In order to not identify the school by implication, the Record is withholding the name of the woman in question until the school has been given a fair chance to reply. For the purposes of this article we will name her ‘Penny’). And on taking a walk in Witpoortjie, you are bound to come across empty cough syrup bottles, especially the brand name BronCleer, making it clear that the woman’s claim might not be that far-fetched.
Penny said her concerns started when she was called to the school because her sister could not get off work. She was told by the school that her nephew kept on falling asleep in class. It was then revealed to her, either by the boy or a teacher, that the incidents most likely happened due to the abuse of the dangerous cocktail.
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https://roodepoortrecord.co.za/2015/01/10/former-drug-addict-speaks-out-2/
Apparently the addiction is not only common to this school – it’s appeared in others too. It is alleged that the cough syrup, which is mostly mixed with Sprite, is freely obtained at a pharmacy in Witpoortjie – no questions asked. This is regardless of the fact that pharmacies by law are not allowed to dispense more than 100ml of the syrup at a time and are supposed to keep a Schedule 2 register, taking the names, addresses and ID numbers of the purchasers.
Unfortunately, the addiction is glorified in hip-hop culture, as well as by Hollywood celebrities. The rapper, Lil’ Wayne, speaks freely of his addiction to ‘Lean’, as does Soulja Boy. In 2000, DJ Screw died of an overdose of the drug and in 2007 rapper Pimp C also fatally overdosed on Purple Drank.
What users do not realise is that codeine belongs to the same family of drugs (opiates in this case) as morphine, opium and heroin. It is just as addictive and just as dangerous. Some of the potentially life-threatening side-effects include respiratory depression, the impairment of psycho-motor activity, dental decay, constipation, weight gain, urinary tract infections and (more fatally) cardiac arrest and overdosing.
According to users, the sought-after effects of the mixture include euphoria, relief from tension and anxiety, decreased aggression and hallucinations.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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