Bow Wow Opens Up About His Lean Addiction: 'We Gotta Save The Youth'
By Peyton Blakemore
September 11, 2018
Bow Wow hopes his recent revelation will save lives. On Tuesday (September 11), the rapper turned actor opened up about his past struggles with drugs, specifically his life-threatening addiction to lean (a combination of prescription-strength cough medicine and soft drinks).
“To the youth- Stop with these dumb a** drugs," he wrote on Twitter. "Im going to let something out. When me and Omarion worked on FACE OFF album. I was high off lean everyday! When yall saw me on BET going off on torae i was high off lean. My attitude everything changed.”
“Kick that sh*t," he continued. "Be a good son or daughter. Be the best you. Ima start being more vocal. We gotta save the youth from going out early. Parents watch your kids. Explain to them. We want yall to live man. I almost died f**king with syrup." Adding, "that sh*t is not cool and i was doing it to be cool!"
Bow Wow's brave revelation came just days after Mac Miller's death. The 26-year-old rapper was found dead in his California home on Friday (September 7) after an apparent overdose.
Mac was also open about his struggles with drugs, and specifically lean. In an interview with Complex in 2013, he said, “I was not happy and I was on lean very heavy. I was so f**ked up all the time it was bad. My friends couldn’t even look at me the same. I was lost.”
To the youth- Stop with these dumb ass drugs. Im going to let something out. When me and omarion worked on FACE OFF album. I was high off lean everyday! When yall saw me on BET going off on torae i was high off lean. My attitude everything changed. My fans started to...
— Bow Wow (@smoss) September 10, 2018
Turn on me my family too. I never promoted lean in my songs. The whole time i was on the UCP tour with chris I WAS SIPPING 4’s atleast 7 times a day. I was addicted until our show in Cincinnati.. i came off stg and passed out woke up in the hospital i was having withdraws
— Bow Wow (@smoss) September 10, 2018
I never felt a pain like that ever. It was summer but i was walking round with 3 hoodies on because i was so cold. I missed the chicago show of that tour baltimore show BECAUSE I WAS FUCKING HIGH AND SICK!!!! that shit is not cool and i was doing it to be cool!
— Bow Wow (@smoss) September 10, 2018
Kick that shit! Be a good son or daughter. Be the best you. Ima start being more vocal. We gotta save the youth from going out early. Parents watch your kids. Explain to them. We want yall to live man. I almost died fucking with syrup. To this day im affected my stomach will
— Bow Wow (@smoss) September 10, 2018
Never be the same and it hasnt been. DRUG FREE IS THE WAY TO BE! smarten up tighten up out here. We cant lose no more of you. Not one! I love all yall. The young artist all the kids around the world.. dont follow a trend. Break the cycle. PEACE
— Bow Wow (@smoss) September 10, 2018
Go back and watch the face off show BET gave us! Look how dumb i looked. My ranting i was angry every day. They try to protect the truth by saying i was dehydrated... nawww bro. I WAS HIGH OFF PROMETHAZINE CODEINE! Actavis. SAY NO TO THESE DRUGS
— Bow Wow (@smoss) September 10, 2018
Photo: Getty Images