A recent warning by schools in Cape Town warns of a new drug trend which is all the rage amongst local teens.
 
The homemade drug is called Sizzurp – also known as purple drank, syrup and lean – and is a mix of codeine-based prescription cough syrup, cooldrinks and, often, sweets. In an article in parent24 it says the drug is particularly dangerous as all of these items are freely available and can be mixed at home.
 
What does it do? The codeine, which is an opiate, produces a feeling of euphoria. The cough syrup also contains a drug called promethazine, which acts as a sedative.
 
When kids talk about these products, the most common street names they use are “syrup,” or “drank,” or “lean”. So if you get a kid talking about, “Leaning on Syrup,” or even talking about, “Gonna go get me some Syrup,” these ought to be key words to parents that these kids are using codeine cough syrup.
 
With June being Youth Month, Clinix Health Group says it is so important that parents keep up to date with the latest trends and be particularly aware of their teens purchasing cough syrup. “The legal age for dispensing schedule 1 and 2 medications is 14 years old, so it up to parents to monitor and educate their kids about the dangers of this mixture.” says Bernadette Campbell, Nursing Services Manager at Clinix Health Group.
 
A Cape Town Principal, Craig George said he was aware the drug exists, but was not aware of the names it has been given. When making the drug, they mix cough syrup with cold drink - Sprite is popular - and add two paracetamol tablets.
 
"There are occasions where one is able to see a student in withdrawal, because their bodies shake. It is especially concerning, because the drug is taken on an empty stomach to enhance the potency of the high," says George.
 
The drug codeine is a dissociative drug with similar effects to Ketamine, which causes a kind of out of body experience. When the kids talk about doing it, they talk about leaning on syrup, because if you sip on it all day long it's like getting very drunk. And they literally have to lean on something to stand up.
 
Because codeine is a narcotic, it can cause addiction. If you drink too much of it, it can cause seizures and you can end up in treatment. Once a person gets addicted, they can’t just cut it off and go cold turkey, you’re going to be very ill for a while.
 
 
Campbell says the danger is that if one looks at the ingredients in isolation they are fairly innocuous but combined it is very dangerous. “We have not seen any cases yet in Gauteng but would like to pre-warn all schools and parents in advance.”
 
It has taken off so quickly in the Cape and it is believed teens are abusing the drink  because it’s easily accessible to them. They can buy all of the ingredients used to make the dangerous drink over the counter, it does not smell, produces an intense high and has minimal side effects initially.
 
Locking up any medications you may have at the house is highly recommended. Also throw out any old prescriptions and talk to your children about the dangers of this drink in order to protect them and make them aware of the silent danger. 
 
Source: parent24. Other information courtesy of Norman Henshilwood High and Plumstead High.
 
Compiled on behalf of Clinix Health Group by Cathy Findley PR. 
Media queries: Jacqui Rorke on 011-463-6372 / jacqui@findleypr.co.za