The Long-Term Effects of Lean Addiction
Lean is a recreational substance that many young people use without thinking of the long-term effects. This includes the long-term effects of lean addiction. Unfortunately, many people use lean as a party drug to achieve short-term, desired effects. Yet, this explains why it is so critical to help people – especially young people – understand how dangerous lean can actually be.
What is Lean and Lean Addiction
Many people may have heard the term “lean” in relation to the opioid crisis, but may not be familiar with what it actually is. According to the American Journal on Addictions, “The opioid crisis in the United States continues, with rates of deaths involving the use of opioids continuing to rise. Although prevention efforts now focus extensively on misuse of prescription opioids, heroin, and other synthetic opioids, research studies and prevention efforts have focused very little on recreational use of opioid-containing concoctions which may place users at risk for overdose or dependence. ‘Lean’, also commonly referred to as ‘Sizzurp’ or ‘Purple Drank’, is a soft drink concoction that often contains codeine cough syrup in order to get the user high.”
Using lean can also make individuals extremely vulnerable to becoming addicted to the primary ingredient, codeine, which is a highly addictive synthetic opioid. Often, people don’t even realize that they have become addicted to it until it is too late and they are already experiencing the signs and the symptoms of the “concoction.”
Signs and Symptoms of Lean Addiction
The signs and symptoms of lean use can be very easy to spot, as many of them surface as visible, physical side effects. However, there are also effects of lean that can be emotional, mental, and even social.
The following are just a few of the signs and symptoms of lean use and lean addiction:
- Having unexplained skin irritations
- Not being able to sleep or sleeping too much
- Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
- Exhibiting otherwise unexplained mood swings
- Becoming easily sunburned
- Experiencing nausea and vomiting
- Having tunnel vision
- Being overly lethargic
- Expressing feelings of withdrawal without the substance
The Short-Term Effects of Lean Addiction
Many of the signs and symptoms that can help loved ones tell if an individual is struggling are also the short-term effects that can happen from lean use and lean addiction. The following are just a few of the short-term effects of lean use:
- Trouble thinking clearly and communicating properly
- Poor eye-hand coordination
- Blurred vision
- Gastrointestinal issues, such as constipation
- Feeling overly stressed out
- Headaches
- Joint pain and body aches
- Dizziness
- Excessive sweating and clamminess
Many of these short-term effects of lean will also manifest into long-term effects if help is not sought soon enough. This is why catching lean addiction early can be so vital.
The Long-Term Effects of Lean Addiction
Some of the long-term effects of lean addiction are severe. The good news is that most side effects (even long-term) can subside with proper treatment. The following are just a few of the long-term side effects of lean addiction:
- Feeling anxious and/or depressed
- Impaired short- and long-term memory
- Trouble with urination, including the loss of bladder control
- Respiratory issues
- Recurring seizures
- Acquiring co-occurring mental health issues
- Committing self-harm
- Having suicidal ideations
- Overdose
Risks of Using Lean to Cope With Mental Health Symptoms:
Research indicates that individuals, especially those with anxiety, PTSD, or other trauma-related mental health issues, may use lean as a coping mechanism. This often exacerbates mental health symptoms, leading to a vicious cycle of dependence and deteriorating mental health.
The reality of a lean addiction is that it can also be fatal. This is the primary reason why professional help is so crucial.
Recovering From the Effects of Lean Addiction
While lean addiction can be very damaging, it does not have to be wholly devastating. There is a solution. This solution often consists of treatment that includes therapy and work with other people in recovery. In some instances, recovery from lean addiction may also include medication management and harm reduction. However, this is always decided on a case-by-case basis.
The primary type of therapy that is often used for treating lean addiction is psychotherapy known as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT can help get to the underlying issues of lean addiction because the issue is rarely the substance itself. Rather, oftentimes individuals use substances like lean to self-medicate untreated trauma, untreated mental health disorders, or other emotional distress.
Given the specific ingredients in lean, such as codeine, which is a potent opioid, treatment for lean addiction may require specialized approaches. This might include opioid withdrawal management and targeted therapies for co-occurring mental health disorders.
Group therapy is often implemented in the treatment of lean addiction as well. This helps people connect with other individuals who are going through the same experience. Further, this “shared experience” can be crucial because it both creates accountability and shows individuals that they are not alone in the process. Group addiction therapy is also a great way to get people comfortable in connecting with other people in recovery, which is crucial for long-term recovery (such as attending recovery meetings post-treatment).
The Phoenix Difference at The Phoenix Recovery Center
Here at The Phoenix Recovery Center, our motto is “Empowering individuals and families suffering from addiction and mental health disorders, to celebrate life through lasting solutions.” That solution is here for anyone struggling with lean addiction.
Yes, the long-term effects of lean can be scary, but, they can also be overcome. At The Phoenix Recovery Center, we can make that happen.
There are many short-term and long-term side effects of a lean addiction. This includes the dangers of overdose, the risk of acquiring a co-occurring mental illness or another substance or behavioral addiction, and the various long-term physical ailments such as brain, liver, and kidney damage. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the right road to long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this alone. For more information about the short-term and long-term side effects of lean, please reach out to The Phoenix Recovery Center today at (801) 438-3185.
