The Dangers of Using Legal Lean: How Using This Drug Can Put You In Danger’s Way

What you will learn

• Legal Lean is a substance that’s created and marketed as a legal substitute for illicit drugs and produces similar effects.
• An FDA analysis found that Legal Lean products contain potentially dangerous ingredients, including the pharmaceutical doxylamine, which can have possible drug interactions.
• Legal Lean can have serious side effects and the potential for addiction.

Drug abuse is becoming a national crisis, ruining countless lives every year. Not only are the lives of those addicted and dependent on the drugs being affected, but also those close to the users, who love them and hope to see them free of their addiction one day. Most people have heard of illegal drugs like cocaine, meth, and heroin, and are probably aware of the nation’s ongoing struggle with prescription abuse as well. However, they aren’t the only dangerous substances that are impacting friends and loved ones.

What Is Legal Lean?

Legal Lean is a non-prescription substance marketed as a legal alternative to illicit “lean,” the opioid-laced cough syrup cocktail once glamorized in music and pop culture. While it’s often described as “herbal” or “natural,” Legal Lean is not harmless. The product allegedly contains several relaxation enhancers and sleep aid ingredients, including valerian root and St. John’s Wort. Both are touted as non-prescription alternatives to popular prescription sleep medications. While these may not be the most dangerous facets of Legal Lean, you should know more before taking this potentially addictive product.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigated Legal Lean’s claims, website, and chemical composition, finding cause for concern that could potentially lead to legal recourse.[1] During the federal investigation, the FDA conducted a chemical analysis of the Legal Lean products and found that they also contain the active pharmaceutical ingredient doxylamine, the same ingredient found in the popular sleep aid Unisom SleepTabs. In addition, some formulations of Legal Lean also have quantities of kava and kratom, making it an even more unpredictable concoction for those unfamiliar with its effects.

Where Did Lean Originate?

One of the most dangerous recently discovered party drugs is lean, which sets the stage for many years of addiction. Lean was initially popularized by DJ Screw and consisted of a particular prescription cough syrup that included codeine and promethazine, which was then combined with soda and candy.[2] This combination creates a powerful sedative effect that can often lead to overconsumption and a long list of potential side effects and health issues.

Since the original lean was made with a prescription cough syrup, it created many of the same effects as other opioids. However, to some extent, since codeine is often considered one of the less potent opioids. Even still, taking lean built a dependency on the drug and significantly increased the likelihood of an overdose situation. In addition, the potential for overdose was often elevated due to lean being consumed in conjunction with other common party drugs, in particular stimulants like cocaine, which would cause the user to consume more lean to counteract the shorter-lasting stimulants.

While obtaining the cough syrup needed to make the original lean is still possible, regulatory and legislative action have significantly reduced the ability to get the primary drug component required to make it. This would typically be an ideal situation, but in the wake of the more difficult-to-obtain original lean, several imitation products have been emerging in the consumer market, claiming to use all-natural and legal substances to achieve the same effects.

One of these products is Legal Lean, manufactured by Arco Globus Trading LLC. It has the potential to lead you, your friends, and your loved ones down a potentially dangerous and addictive path of relaxation and sleepiness.

Is Lean Legal?

The original lean, which is a mix of codeine and promethazine cough syrup, is not legal without a prescription and is classified as a controlled substance due to its opioid content.[3] Legal Lean syrup is technically legal and marketed as a supplement, but the FDA has flagged the product for misleading marketing and unapproved pharmaceutical ingredients, particularly doxylamine. Legal Lean is not a controlled substance currently, but its legal status doesn’t mean it’s safe.

Understanding FDA Concerns

In 2017, the FDA posted a warning letter to marketers and distributors of Legal Lean Syrup and Coco Loko, a “snortable” chocolate powder, for selling misbranded and unapproved drugs.[4] This letter focuses on the misleading marketing materials on these products that prove they’re intended to be alternatives to illicit street drugs and may have safety risks.

Most Legal Lean products have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA for safety and effectiveness, resulting in a lack of regulatory oversight for quality control, manufacturing standards, and potential health risks. Supplements may be sold without FDA approval with an explicit disclaimer, but not if they’re found to contain dangerous ingredients or pharmaceuticals with known safety risks.

With drug abuse a growing public health issue, the FDA is concerned that products like Legal Lean and Coco Loko encourage drug abuse, particularly in minors, and that these products mimic the effects of recreational drugs.

In addition to the unlawful marketing, Legal Lean was found to contain the pharmaceutical doxylamine, which wasn’t disclosed on the product labeling. This is a serious pharmaceutical that can have dangerous interactions with alcohol and in people who have certain medical conditions.

Consumers are advised to be cautious when considering Legal Lean products. Because of the undisclosed ingredients, they can pose serious health risks for people who have underlying health conditions, are taking medications, or are pregnant or nursing. To avoid adverse health effects, it is essential to use products that have received FDA approval or hold recognized safety certifications.

What Are The Side Effects of Legal Lean Use?

Not only does doxylamine cause potentially dangerous interactions when used concomitantly with alcoholic beverages, but it can also cause individuals with certain pre-existing conditions to be put in a situation where they may experience a medical complication or emergency. In addition, doxylamine has the potential to cause dangerous interactions and effects in people who have:[5]

• Asthma
• Emphysema
• chronic bronchitis
• enlarged prostates
• Glaucoma

It may also present a hazard to those who have been previously adversely affected by doxylamine. One of the biggest dangers of Legal Lean is that the presence of doxylamine is not noted in the ingredients, so those who may be adversely affected by it have no way of knowing the danger beforehand.

Some of the side effects of Legal Lean may be more severe in certain users than in others, but in most cases, users will experience one or more of the typical side effects associated with its use. These side effects can include:

• Feelings of euphoria
• Periodic or sustained dizziness
• Vision reduction or impairment
• Damage to the memory center of the brain affects the user’s ability to create, store, and retrieve memories
• Hallucinations
• Seizures in individuals who have an inherent risk

How To Know If You Are Addicted to Legal Lean

While Legal Lean is known to foster some addictive traits, they are often no different than the signs and behaviors that indicate addiction to any other substance. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) outlines the various criteria used to determine if someone has developed a substance use disorder or has become addicted to Legal Lean, which include:[6]

• Taking a substance in larger amounts than directed or for longer than directed
• Having the desire to cut down or stop using, but being unable to
• Devoting a significant amount of time to getting, using, or recovering from the substance
• Having intense cravings to use
• Being unable to complete work, home, or school responsibilities
• Using, even to the detriment of relationships
• Foregoing social, recreational, or even occupational activities in favor of using
• Using it even when it places the user in danger
• Developing a tolerance to the substance or needing larger amounts or more frequent use to experience the same effects
• Experiencing withdrawal or detox symptoms when not using, that is subsequently relieved when use resumes

Legal Lean Addiction Treatment Options

If you or someone you know or care about may have started using Legal Lean and might be addicted, the most important thing to do is to reassure the user that help is available and that they are not alone. However, the dangerous nature of the withdrawal process means that you should reach out to professionals in your area before trying to quit solo.

By working with experienced addiction treatment professionals in New York, you can create your treatment plan with full confidentiality and complete the detox and withdrawal stages in a clean and safe environment. Not only will you be more comfortable, but you will also have medical supervision available in case of any complications. This means that you can lay a strong foundation for future recovery and success.

Amanda is a prolific medical content writer specializing in eating disorders and addiction treatment. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Purdue University with a B.S. in Social Work. Read more