JaMarcus Russell Arrested for Purple Drank

by Jordan Yerman | July 6, 2010 at 08:07 am

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JaMarcus Russell Arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance: Codeine

JaMarcus Russell, former quarterback for the Oakland Raiders, was arrested at his Mobile, Alabama home on July 5 for possession of a controlled substance. The substance in question was codeine, present in prescription cough syrup, for which Russell did not have a prescription.

Rapper Pimp C Died of Cough Syrup Overdose

Prescription cough syrup, which contains codeine and promethazine, is mixed with Sprite or 7Up and Jolly Rancher candy for recreational use. The concoction is called purple drank, lean, sizzurp, or purple jelly, among other names. DJ Screw, who popularized purple drank along with Three 6 Mafia, died from a codeine overdose in 2000. Currently, the codeine-based mixture's biggest proponent is Lil' Wayne.

He was booked into Mobile Metro Jail at 4:22 p.m. Russell was released minutes later after making $2,500 bail, according to online records.

Russell is scheduled to appear in court on July 20. A bond hearing is set for July 7.

Found via Deadspin.