Lately, it seems like all rappers are talking about narcotics and their dependency on them. As listeners, we may rap along, but we may not understand the side effects of these drugs.

Taking a look at Future's song "Mask off" is a perfect example of opioids in rap culture; the song basically speaks of two different substances, Percocet and Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).

Percocet is Oxycodone with acetaminophen and these two form a very powerful narcotic that many doctors use for short term pain. Percocet is highly addictive and your body can develop a tolerance to it which is why many doctors only prescribe it for short term pain.

Although MDMA is not a prescription drug, it does enhance the effects of the Oxycodone in Percocet because it is a central nervous stimulant; this is very dangerous because in the euphoria of the high you can't tell how much you are actually taking and this can lead to an overdose. There is another side effect to mixing these two narcotics together called serotonin syndrome which causes the body to shake violently and the muscles to become rigid. This eventually causes death.

Another trend that has been around since the 90's and originated in my hometown of Houston is lean. This concoction has many different names such as lean, purple drink, dirty sprite, and sizzurp, and it is a mixture of Codeine and Promethazine.

Codeine is a respiratory suppressant that is used to treat severe coughs and other sicknesses like sinusitis and bronchitis. Promethazine is a central nervous system suppressor that is used to treat nausea and motion sickness. These two prescription drugs are mild to moderate pain relievers, but once they are mixed together they become powerful suppressants that can hijack the human brain and the lungs. This can cause shortness of breath, which leads to less oxygen to the brain, and eventually seizures.

Xanax or Alprazolam is also something we are hearing about more often. Alprazolam is used to treat short term anxiety problems like panic attacks. This narcotic is highly addictive and many people self-medicate with this drug for long term social anxiety problems, which is very dangerous. Alprazolam is also highly addictive and, if abused, it can cause blurry vision, memory loss, insomnia, dizziness, and muscle weakness.

Rappers such as Lil Wayne, Future, Kevin Gates, Chance the Rapper, Travis Scott, and many others talk about these substances as if they are meaningless narcotics that couldn't make a significant negative impact in people's life.

These are powerful opioids that should only be taken with a prescription and given to the patient with the correct dosage to prevent substance abuse. If you or someone you love started abusing narcotics and became dependent call SAMHA's (The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) national hotline at 1-800-662-HELP. This hotline is 24/7/365, and is toll free and confidential.

Sources: 
<span class="redactor-invisible-space"><a href="http://www.narconon.org/drug-abuse/purple-drank-effects.html">http://www.narconon.org/drug-abuse/purple-drank-ef...</a><span class="redactor-invisible-space">
<span class="redactor-invisible-space"><a href="http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/prescription/opioids-and-morphine-derivatives-effects.html">http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/prescriptio...</a><span class="redactor-invisible-space">
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