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Psychiatria Danubina, Vol. 37 No. suppl 1, 2025.

Review article

PURPLE DRANK: AN OLD PHENOMENON RETURNS

Rebecca Juli ; Department of Surgery and Medical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
Giada Juli ; Psychiatric Studies Center, Iseo, Italy
Alfredo Juli ; Department of Surgery and Medical Sciences, University "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro, Italy
Luigi Juli ; G.R.E.C.A. DCA, Catanzaro, Italy

Full text: english pdf 135 Kb

page 189-190

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Abstract

Purple drank (PD) also known as "lean" or "sizzurp", is a recreational drug typically containing codeine and promethazine hydrochloride, often mixed with soda or alcohol. This drug is not new, in fact it was used in Texas in the 1960s, and became widely popular in the 1990s especially among adolescents and young adults, becoming the "poor man's drug" because it was readily available and not expensive. Several studies suggest that the number of PD abusers today is increasing, and the underestimation of this phenomenon may be related to the fact that PD components are easily available in pharmacies.

Keywords

purple drank; recreational drug; codeine; promethazine

Hrčak ID:

344093

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/344093

Publication date:

20.9.2025.

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