The Toseina with Sprite, also called purple drank, sizzurp, lean and dirty sprite drink, it's a drink that combines homemade cough syrup, candy and soda. It is popular in the US and other parts of the world. Tosein is a medicine to control cough, whose active component is codeine, which has an analgesic and relaxing effect.
Tosein is mixed with soda, usually Sprite or Mountain Dew, to make it easier to consume. Candies or sweets help to give the characteristic violet color, at the same time that they provide a more pleasant flavor. This drink is associated with the world of hip hop.
However, according to some experts the purple drank first appeared in the mid-1960s, and from there it began to gain popularity among musicians until today.
Origin and history
Some events related to the emergence of this combination in the musical field can be highlighted:
-It is estimated that the first consumers were blues singers and musicians in Houston, United States, in the late 50s and 60s.
-The hallucinogenic effects of cough syrups were discovered. These effects diminished when combining the syrup with alcohol, generally beer. With this, the consumer could find himself in a state of half-dupe.
-In the 80s the preparation varied. The alcohol was replaced by some soda drink, in this case Sprite, plus sweet candies that would help give it the characteristic purple color.
-The concoction became popular in the undeground environment of rap and hip hop until the 90s. This allowed the knowledge of it to also spread to other cities and states of the country.
-During this period one of the biggest promoters of purple drank was DJ Screw, who not only consumed it openly but also promoted it to his followers.
-In a study conducted by the University of Texas in 2004 found that almost 10% of high school students had consumed this drink at least once.
-Due to the figures and incidents related to purple drank, the sale without a prescription of codeine syrups (such as tosein) has been prohibited in countries such as the United States and Spain.
-Despite efforts to control the consumption of this type of beverages, cases continue to occur today. In fact, it is one of the most popular drugs among the very young.
Effects edit
The following describes a series of effects that the consumption of tosein with Sprite produces:
-The main components of cough syrups are codeine and promethazine. When taking large amounts, codeine generates euphoria and promethazine inhibits motor skills.
-One of the first effects is the feeling of lethargy, drowsiness and dissociation with the body.
-Distortion of reality, paranoia, hallucinations and seizures.
-As codeine is assimilated in the liver, it is converted into morphine, thus generating dependence and addiction.
-Can be potentially fatal for people suffering from depression.
-Its excessive consumption can cause respiratory or cardiac arrest.
-Produces nausea, vomiting, dizziness and blurred vision.
-Irregular heartbeat, sweating and high fever are generated.
-There is stiffness in the muscles and loss of consciousness or memory.
-Slowness of movements and sleep.
Fun facts
There are other information and data that are worth noting:
-Its popularity is due, among other things, to the ease of acquiring the ingredients and its low cost.
-The formula has changed according to the preferences and needs in each country, causing the substitution of candy or soda (for example, 7Up by Sprite).
-Codeine is a derivative of opium and, although its consumption in small doses does not cause serious damage, it continues to represent a problem when used as the main ingredient for purple drank, thanks to its addictive effects.
-The syrups whose main components are promethazine and codeine are not the only ones used to create purple drank. Other drugs based on dextromethorphan or DXM, an element derived from heroin, are used.
-The side effects of DXM, consumed in high doses, are more or less similar to those discussed above. Some of these are nausea, vomiting, and even loss of sense of time.
-Although the non-prescription sale of codeine syrups has been suspended, this regulation has not been extended to drugs with DXM.
-Some rappers and singers promote the consumption of it through social networks, as in the case of rapper Lil Pump.
-Because of their popularity, similar drinks have been marketed in the United States without the drugs used for the usual preparation, since they use derivatives of certain herbs and even hormones. However, this has been criticized by some sectors for describing the measure as an incentive for young people to try the preparation.
-It is considered one of the most deadly drugs in the world.
Who takes it?
As noted above, today the purple drank is popular with high school students as well as prominent hip hop characters. Here are some celebrities who have recognized its use:
-Dj Screw was one of the first to encourage drug use. He died in 2000 from a codeine overdose.
-Lil Wayne is another of the figures that has glorified the purple drank. He even made a song about liquid drugs called Me & My Drank. The rapper was later reported to be suffering from codeine addiction.
-Justin Bieber has been seen consuming large amounts of soda, presumably mixed with some type of cough or anti-flu syrup.
-Other figures who died from excessive consumption of this drug were Big Moe, Pimp C and Fredo Santana.
References
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- Drug information. (sf). At NarcoOn. Retrieved: May 15, 2018. In NarcoOn of narconon.org.
- The new fashionable drug among young people - one of the components of cough syrup. (2010). In Codenaser. Retrieved: May 15, 2018. In Codenaser de codenaser.com.
- The deadliest street drugs. (sf). In Very Interesting. Retrieved: May 15, 2018. In Muy Interesante from muyinteresante.es.
- Purple Drank: the dangerous drink that causes hallucinations as powerful as LSD. (2018). In Collective Culture. Retrieved: May 15, 2018. In Collective Culture of culturacolectiva.com.
- Purple drank - the purple drunkenness. In Ailaket !! Retrieved: May 15, 2018. In Ailaket !! From ailaket.com.
- Purple drank. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: May 15, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
- Sizzurp: What is it and why do rappers consume it? (2014). Sopitas.com. Retrieved: May 15, 2018. In Sopitas.com of sopitas.com.
- Toseina antitussive syrup and analgesic. (sf). In Facial Cleaning. Retrieved: May 15, 2018. In Facial Cleansing of Facial Cleaning.net.