Cough syrup abuse among Cape Town's youth: A growing concern

As drugs continue to plague communities across South Africa, Cape Town has seen a surge of cough syrup, or "lean" usage, especially among minors. 

In a recent operation on the Cape Flats, Safety and Security mayco member, JP Smith, said they were alerted of the increase in cough syrup being sold to children across the metro.

During crime prevention operations in Lavender Hill on Friday, Smith said residents were explaining how cough syrup is being bought and mixed with fizzy drinks by children. 

The mixture, known as "lean", is consumed in order to experience an intoxicated state, with many users claiming to experience a high. 

During the operation, Smith said they found cough syrup bottles strewn all over the place, especially at job corners. 

During stop-and-search operations, officers pulled over a motorist who was found with a significant number of cough syrup bottles, along with a ledger of who he’s allegedly been selling the items to. 

The motorist was arrested under the Medicines Act. 

“This week, we were alerted to the scourge of cough syrup being sold to children across Cape Town to get high. Our officers were told by children in Lavender Hill that the syrup, which contains codeine, is mixed with a fizzy drink and then consumed to induce a drug-like state.

"This harmful concoction is colloquially known as ‘lean’, and there have been earlier reports suggesting it had been used as a date rape drug due to its effects,” Smith said. 

He said the best results come from tip-offs and information received from members of the community. 

According to research, the lean tends to make users slouch to one side the more they consume the substance. 

The effects of codeine are like those of other addictive opioids (such as oxycodone and heroin).

Some common effects of lean include euphoria, relaxation, feeling tired and slow, irritability, and experiencing dizziness and loss of coordination.

“We are urging communities affected by this to help us save our children by calling the Anonymous Tip-off line on 0800 11 00 77 or 107 from a landline, and reporting those who are behind this,” Smith said. 

According to the SA Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), age, peer pressure, and the low cost and easy accessibility of drugs and alcohol in South Africa are increasing the risk factors of abuse among adolescents and young adults.

According to the World Drug Report 2021, the average age for drug dependency in South Africa is a staggering 12 with 50% of South African teens drinking alcohol.

In addition to alcohol, popular drugs used by adolescents include tik, ecstasy, codeine, nyaope, flakka, cocaine and mandrax.

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Cape Argus