A recovering addict from Nahoon Valley who drank “Lean” for six years and only weighed 47kg, says he looted his family’s businesses to feed his addiction.
Clean for a year, Anthony Leb, 25, now weighing 73kg, is going strong after confronting an addiction that almost destroyed his family’s livelihood.
He shared his experience with taking “Lean” (a concoction of codeine-based medication and soft drink) and Xanax (a schedule 5 medication for anxiety disorders), which are increasingly taking hold among youth in the metro.
Leb said his addiction began at a party where he was first introduced to Lean, also known as “Wok”, “Purple drank”, or just “syrup” by his drinking buddies.
“I was a young man, so of course I wanted to experience new things.
“The guys [who drank Lean] were starting to become lazy and I wanted to know what it’s all about.
“So I tried it and it didn’t work instantly, but I liked the way it tasted.
“But after I got that ‘high’ I fell in love with it.”
Leb said he was influenced by his favourite rap artist, who he said glorified Lean in his music.
“It kind of felt cool, like I was smooth. I began to get influenced by some rap musicians.
After using it twice, he said he was already hooked.
“It stopped being occasional and I started getting it myself.
“I just fell in love with the feeling of not caring, doing whatever I wanted.
“Everything was so much better on it — the music, the food. I used to eat a lot of sweet stuff; I would not touch normal food,” said Leb.
He explained how it was typically taken.
“You down the first glass and the second one — you just sip on it. The high kicks in after about 10 to 15 minutes.”
Leb said access to codeine-based products was easy.
“Through my friends we knew people that worked at a pharmacy and I realised there were pharmacies where I could just walk in and take as many codeine products as I wanted.”
He claimed to have obtained a six-pack of Stilpain, which contains codeine, from this outlet.
“I saw that opportunity, so I started selling them.”
Leb said he would buy 100ml of Stilpain syrup for R35 and sell it for up to R100, sometimes even R200 depending on the customer.
“There were people using codeine but they were too scared to go to the kasi.
“So I took the opportunity and made money.”
Leb said popular products included AstraPain and Broncleer.
“If I walk in town right now, I see so many empty bottles of AstraPain lying on the street, even Broncleer.”
His use of Lean was all-consuming and eventually led to him becoming isolated.
He described a typical binge: “It was fun at first, but I didn’t like being around a lot of people.
“I would sit in a room with two friends and we’d just chill for hours just talking nonsense, watching funny videos and laughing.
“We just didn’t care — to a point where I was sitting in my room drinking it alone.
“That’s where my life went on a downward spiral.”
Leb described the psychological pull of addiction.
“Chasing the drug was a very nice feeling, knowing you are going to get it. That feeling is amazing, and when you get to the pharmacy and they don’t have it, I used to get so mad.
“I would make so many plans, going around searching for dealers, even when I didn’t have money any more.
“But once I got the high, it felt too good. I just wanted to sit alone, numb.
“You could walk into the room and rob me of everything I have, I could not care less.”
Leb’s addiction led him to a dark place.
“I just didn’t want to be around people, especially during my last year of using. I did not have a girlfriend.
“It was either the drug or suicide. I realised I needed help.”
He admitted stealing from his family’s business to sustain his habit.
“I stopped working for my parents at the store.
“Once I saw money, I just took it, a R100 here and there. This went on for five years.
“My parents had to close down some of their shops because of me. That took a toll on me. I knew the harm I was causing, but I was in denial.
“I was in love with that lifestyle of being the cool guy among my friends.”
He eventually sought help at Four Brothers Recovery Centre in Gonubie and they put him on the path to being clean.
“Lean does not phase me any more because I know if I take one sip now, everything I worked so hard for will go down the drain.
“All the trust I regained with my parents would diminish forever. I will not risk that trust.”
He criticised those selling drugs and medication unlawfully.
“They just don’t care, they are in it for the money.”
Leb also spoke about the physical damage caused by his addiction, including seizures and a serious shoulder injury.
“During my last days of addiction, I would drink three bottles of Lean and fall asleep. When I woke up, I felt super confused and lightheaded.
“Then seizures started coming, and I had so many that the bones in my right shoulder started separating and would dislocate easily.
“It happened so many times that I needed an operation. I had surgery in 2021, and I was not even done drugging at that time.
“I was warned by the doctor, but I was not ready to listen. I kept using and kept having seizures.
“Now I’m stuck with a messed-up shoulder for life.”
Leb also warned about mixing substances.
“Lean is such an addictive drug and can lead to other things like Xanax.
“I would also put Xanax in the Lean and that is dangerous.”
He said Xanax was easily accessible and widely used.
“A loose pill was about R5, and a full jar could cost between R300 and R450.
“I used Xanax for four years. Whenever I was sad or angry, I would take a pill.
“It felt like a ‘happy pill’ — like all your problems go away. But if you take more than one, you start dozing off,” said Leb.
Now one year sober, Leb says he wants to help others.
“After a year of being clean, I feel like motivating others to start their journey to healing.”
He urged parents to stay vigilant.
“It’s impossible not to notice someone high on Lean. Their eyes go lower and they become less responsive.”
