What is Lean?

What is Lean? Lean is an illicit substance made with codeine cough syrup, soda, and hard candy. Codeine is from the opium poppy plant and is one of the weaker opioids. However, because it is still highly addictive and potentially damaging to your body. It is possible for you to develop a lean addiction in a relatively short period due to the way opioids short-circuit your brain’s reward response system. Which is why many will need an opiate addiction rehab program in Midway Utah to put them back on the right path.

What is Lean and How Does Abuse of It Affect You?

The name “Lean” comes from the effect it has on you while drinking. The more you consume, the more you may slouch or lean to one side. The effects of codeine in Lean are similar to those of other addictive opioids. Typically, its effects begin to kick in within 30 to 45 minutes. The peak of the effects occurs one to two hours after you ingest it. The total duration for the effects could be four to six hours. The side effects may include:

  • Seizures

  • Memory loss

  • Dizziness

  • Urinary tract infection

  • Slowed breathing

  • Impaired vision

The Dangers of Drinking Lean

Lean abuse commonly leads to your body, developing a tolerance to its effects. As a tolerance builds, your body produces less and less of its own natural opioids until it is entirely dependent on the foreign substance. This dependency causes you to consume more and more of the drug to get the same feeling or to feel “normal.” Lean abuse can also lead to life-threatening health complications and even fatal overdoses. Upon consuming too much lean, your brain is then flooded with opioid molecules and becomes unable to regulate its response or mitigate their effect. Subsequently, your reduced breathing rate caused by drinking lean becomes a complete cessation of your ability to breathe. When you stop breathing, your brain no longer receives enough oxygen to function correctly. In about six minutes, brain death begins. If your brain is then off from oxygen, you may enter a coma or die.

Getting Treatment for Lean Addiction

If you are currently addicted to lean, reducing use or quitting may feel impossible. The opioids in lean cause addiction and require treatment such as:

Opioid treatment medications reduce painful symptoms of withdrawal, including pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. An opiate addiction rehab program in Midway Utah may also reveal other diseases or disorders. Accordingly, medically-supervised detox is integral in ensuring a safe and successful rehabilitation for you.

Start Your Treatment Today

What is Lean and what is purple drank? To find out more about what Lean is and how dangerous it can be, contact Acqua Recovery today. We offer a wide range of treatments and services for substance abuse. Our licensed staff can help you overcome your addiction and get on the road to recovery. To find out more about our treatment programs, call us today at 866.830.4628.


What is Lean?

Dr. Daniel Pickrell

Dr. Daniel Pickrell
Medical Reviewer

Dr. Pickrell is a board-certified psychiatrist with interests in addiction and psychiatry. He strives to identify the underlying cause of substance use. His understanding of addiction as the overlapping symptoms of biopsychosocial development is the foundation to his care model. He is committed to helping both patients and families understand that addiction is a treatable medical illness. He has been involved in the treatment of addiction for the last 17 years and completed his residency training at the University of Utah.

What is Lean? Lean is an illicit substance made with codeine cough syrup, soda, and hard candy. Codeine is from the opium poppy plant and is one of the weaker opioids. However, because it is still highly addictive and potentially damaging to your body. It is possible for you to develop a lean addiction in a relatively short period due to the way opioids short-circuit your brain’s reward response system. Which is why many will need an opiate addiction rehab program in Midway Utah to put them back on the right path.

What is Lean and How Does Abuse of It Affect You?

The name “Lean” comes from the effect it has on you while drinking. The more you consume, the more you may slouch or lean to one side. The effects of codeine in Lean are similar to those of other addictive opioids. Typically, its effects begin to kick in within 30 to 45 minutes. The peak of the effects occurs one to two hours after you ingest it. The total duration for the effects could be four to six hours. The side effects may include:

  • Seizures

  • Memory loss

  • Dizziness

  • Urinary tract infection

  • Slowed breathing

  • Impaired vision

The Dangers of Drinking Lean

Lean abuse commonly leads to your body, developing a tolerance to its effects. As a tolerance builds, your body produces less and less of its own natural opioids until it is entirely dependent on the foreign substance. This dependency causes you to consume more and more of the drug to get the same feeling or to feel “normal.” Lean abuse can also lead to life-threatening health complications and even fatal overdoses. Upon consuming too much lean, your brain is then flooded with opioid molecules and becomes unable to regulate its response or mitigate their effect. Subsequently, your reduced breathing rate caused by drinking lean becomes a complete cessation of your ability to breathe. When you stop breathing, your brain no longer receives enough oxygen to function correctly. In about six minutes, brain death begins. If your brain is then off from oxygen, you may enter a coma or die.

Getting Treatment for Lean Addiction

If you are currently addicted to lean, reducing use or quitting may feel impossible. The opioids in lean cause addiction and require treatment such as:

Opioid treatment medications reduce painful symptoms of withdrawal, including pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. An opiate addiction rehab program in Midway Utah may also reveal other diseases or disorders. Accordingly, medically-supervised detox is integral in ensuring a safe and successful rehabilitation for you.

Start Your Treatment Today

What is Lean and what is purple drank? To find out more about what Lean is and how dangerous it can be, contact Acqua Recovery today. We offer a wide range of treatments and services for substance abuse. Our licensed staff can help you overcome your addiction and get on the road to recovery. To find out more about our treatment programs, call us today at 866.830.4628.


Scroll to Top