'Purple Drank' Mix Sends Middle School Students to Hospital

SILVER SPRING, MD — A homemade batch of “Purple Drank” – a mix of vodka, NyQuil and Jolly Ranchers – made popular by rappers sickened a half-dozen Montgomery County middle school students on Friday.

According to Montgomery County Police, the students at Francis Scott Key Middle School, 910 Schindler Drive in Silver Spring, drank the blend brought by a student to school. It causes euphoria, but can also cause seizures and trouble breathing.

Rescue crews checked 12 to 15 students, and took six to an area hospital for treatment.

None of the illnesses were life-threatening. The children were taken for medical evaluations out of “an abundance of caution,” Montgomery County Schools spokesman Derek Turner told WUSA.

The school nurse called 911 after several of the youths had trouble breathing.

“At 10:30 a.m., we entered into a shelter in place to ensure medical personnel could easily access the school,” Principal Dr. Yolanda Stanislaus said in a recorded message sent to parents. The shelter in place order was lifted at 11:25 a.m.

Rapper Lil Wayne talks and raps about using the drink, WTOP reports. It adds at least three hip-hop rappers or producers have died from abusing Purple Drank.

The drink is also known as “sizzurp” and “lean.”