Cough medicine is not the first ingredient that comes to mind with a summer cocktail. Yet it is a trend among young people. They mix cough syrup with, for example, cola. It seems harmless because it contains no alcohol, but it can be fatal, police warn.
The drink, that purple lean, purp, sizzurp of lean syrup is said to have blown over from the US as early as 2016, but has recently started to advance again. What the problem is? Cough medicine contains codeine and promethazine. Codeine is an opiate that is a narcotic drug. The drink therefore provides a slow and euphoric feeling. If you drink too much of it, you can die from an overdose.
In the Netherlands, cough drinks containing both codeine and promethazine are no longer sold. If you mix such a product with soft drinks, a high dose can easily develop. It is treacherous precisely because of the sweet taste. High doses can lead to cerebral hemorrhages and respiratory arrest. Your organs can also be damaged and it is difficult to stop because codeine is addictive.
Drinking the mixed drink is a criminal offense. It just falls under the Opium Act. If you are caught, you will get a criminal record, the police in Waalwijk warn.
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