Justin Bieber's many friendships within the hip hop industry would seem out of place, given the genre of music in which he made his name. More recently, however, he's collaborated in a number of hip hop songs. Perhaps his newly formed inspirations have led him to some of the darker sides of the industry, such as the cough syrup concoction known as sizzurp. Or perhaps Bieber is simply among the 1 in 10 teens who use it, USA Today reported.

According to the New York Daily News, Bieber's handlers believe he's addicted to the purple drink, and wanted to put him in rehab prior to his recent DUI and street racing arrest. What, exactly, makes the substance so dangerously addictive and who/what propagated its rise?

Comprised of codeine-based cough syrup, soda, and Jolly Ranchers, the drink acts as a pain reliever (codeine, an opiate) and a sedative (promethazine), a combination of qualities that creates a euphoric high (though I'm sure there are better descriptions for its effects). Because it is harmless when taken in the appropriate quantities (serving as a cough suppressant), it's not "a weaker formula of the same class of medicine as heroin," among other reasons, according to a quote given by Dr. George Fallieras, an emergency room physician and hospitalist at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, to the Los Angeles Times.

But, its users ingest it heavily, more so than other harmful substances.

"The amount of codeine these guys ingest with the syrup is massive ... it's just the same as someone being addicted to heroin, except they're not using needles," Fallieras said.

Because it requires heavy abuse before its effects can be realized -- and thus would seem like excessive work for an individual attempting to get high --cough syrup's rise in popularity can also be attributed to its cultural significance. Around since the 1960's or so, it was popularized by DJ Screw in the '90s when he referenced it by slowing down beats to resemble a syrup-induced mindset.

Sizzurp's most famous user is Lil' Wayne, who's publicly admitted his addiction and once blamed a seizure on the purple stuff.