What Does Lean Do to You and How Does It Affect Mental Health?
One of the forgotten dangers of lean and other substances is the danger to mental health. This is because the physical side effects of substance use are simply more visible. However, more people struggle with addiction and mental illness than many people may think. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “7.7 million adults have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders…Of the 20.3 million adults with substance use disorders, 37.9% also had mental illnesses,” and “Among the 42.1 million adults with mental illness, 18.2% also had substance use disorders.”
What Exactly Is Lean?
Lean is a “party drug” that goes by many different names. According to the American Journal on Addictions, “Lean (a.k.a.: Sizzurp, Purple Drank) is a recreational beverage that commonly contains codeine cough syrup.” It also contains an antihistamine known as promethazine, which can also be very dangerous. Some variations of lean also contain alcohol, making it even more dangerous.
Yet, despite the dangers, many people still use lean. This is especially true with younger people who see lean being used and praised in popular culture. According to the peer-reviewed journal, PLoS One, “NSDUH [National Survey on Drug Use and Health] data indicated that lean use was most prevalent among teenagers and young adults (ages 13–21), accounting for 66% of the sample. This trend was more pronounced in male respondents (75%) compared to females.” Many of these young people will start to experience the signs and symptoms of lean long before they realize that they may have a problem.
The Signs and Symptoms of Lean Addiction
There are many signs and symptoms of a lean addiction. The following are just a few:
- Having pale lips and skin
- Exhibiting uncontrollable mood swings
- Isolating away from loved ones
- Sleeping more than normal and/or not sleeping enough
- Having gastrointestinal problems
- Appearing shaky or jittery
- Uncontrollably sweating and having a “clammy” appearance
- Doctor shopping for the primary ingredients in lean
If any, many, or all of these signs are present it is highly recommended that professional help be sought sooner than later. Doing so can mean the difference between experiencing short-term side effects and long-term consequences.
The Physical Dangers of Lean
When asked the questions, “What does lean do to you?”, “What does lean do to your brain?”, or “What does lean feel like?” the answer is that it does many things, all of them negative and dangerous. The dangers of lean can be physical and include:
- Trouble with urination and a lack of bladder control
- Extreme constipation
- Trouble breathing and tightness in the chest
- Headaches
- Body aches and joint pain
- Painful withdrawal symptoms
- Physical dependency (addiction)
The Dangers of Lean for Mental Health
There are also many mental health dangers when it comes to lean use and lean addiction. These can be particularly damaging to young people because most brains aren’t developed until the mid-to-late 20s.
The following are just a few of the dangers of lean addiction for mental health:
- Increased feelings of anxiety and depression
- Trouble with cognitive functioning
- Having low self-esteem and poor self-image
- Engaging in risky behavior
- Acquiring co-occurring psychiatric disorders
- Having feelings of self-harm and committing self-harm
- Experiencing suicidal ideations and having suicide attempts
How to Recover From Lean Addiction
Now that you know the dangers of what Lean does to you and its addictive nature. The good news is there are many effective recovery options for lean addiction. This includes many effective therapies, options for harm reduction, and medication management.
Many therapies can be used to help people recover from lean addiction. These therapies may include psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), experiential therapies like art therapy and nature immersion therapy, and group therapy. Generally, a combination of many therapies is best for the most well-rounded recovery. Harm-reduction medications can also be highly useful in helping people recover from opioid addiction (this includes lean addiction). However, this depends on the individual and must be closely monitored by medical professionals.
It is also important for people in addiction recovery to connect to other people who have “shared experiences.” These shared experiences will help people bond, create accountability, and, ultimately, help with long-term recovery by creating a healthy support system. Recovery alumni services can also be particularly helpful for people in recovery from an issue like lean addiction.
The Phoenix Difference at The Phoenix Recovery Center
The iconic author and philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson, once said, “What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.” Here at The Phoenix Recovery Center, we know that everyone has what it takes inside to recover with the right help. This includes people with mental health issues recovering from lean addiction.
We know that recovery can be daunting. However, we also know that recovery is possible and one of the best things a person can do for themselves. We can help you make it happen.
Many people don’t realize just how dangerous using lean can be. It can lead to serious physical, mental, and emotional side effects. People who use lean are also at a much higher risk of developing a co-occurring mental illness. The good news is there are many mental health rehabilitation options for those with co-occurring disorders. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the right road to long-term recovery right away. For more information about the dangers of lean for mental health, please reach out to The Phoenix Recovery Center today at (801) 438-3185.
