As reported by the Dallas Morning News. The article starts by describing the new drug, which is a mix of 'Black Tar' heroin and cold medication (Tylenol PM, Advil PM, or any medication with diphenhydramine sold under the trade name Benadryl) called 'Cheese'. The article reports that the DISD is seeing 'Cheese' use growing rapidly and is becoming a major concern. Also, Dallas ISD and some surrounding suburbs are the only schools in the country who are having this problem currently. Specifically several of the North Dallas schools seem to be having the most problems.
As reported in the article:
Arrests are up 82% in the 2006 - 2007 school term (thru February). YTD 2007 122 arrests. YTD 2006 67 arrests (by the end of the 2006 school year there were only 90 arrests total). But the article also pointed out that it may not be that USE is up as much as it may be that arrests are up because they didn't even know what 'Cheese' was in 2005.
98% of those arrested are Hispanic. Hispanic kids are buying the Heroin, mixing the cold medication and selling to other Hispanic kids who then snort the concoction. Also, because one dealer might mix in only 3% Heroin while another might mix in 7% to 10%, the concoction can be deadly.
The cost of a 'Cheese' hit is about $2.
The average age of a user is 14.
Since 2006 the police link 'Cheese' to 4 teen deaths.
The 'Black Tar' Heroin comes mostly from Mexico and to get to Dallas it is coming thru the El Paso - Juarez area.
Arrests........05/06....06/07 (thru Feb.)
High School.....58.......65
Middle School...30.......43
Elementary.......1........0
Alt. Schools*....1.......14
----------------------------
Total...........90......122
*Many of the kids who were arrested in the 05/06 term were sent to alternative schools, where they were arrested again or provided drugs to other kids at a new school.
The concern seems to be that drug dealers have found an avenue to sell heroin (very addictive and usually very expensive) to a new market. Those that try it can become addicted after the first hit and have very severe and very painful withdrawal symptoms after just a couple of hits. So the user starts buying not to get high but to stop the pain.
As reported in the article:
Arrests are up 82% in the 2006 - 2007 school term (thru February). YTD 2007 122 arrests. YTD 2006 67 arrests (by the end of the 2006 school year there were only 90 arrests total). But the article also pointed out that it may not be that USE is up as much as it may be that arrests are up because they didn't even know what 'Cheese' was in 2005.
98% of those arrested are Hispanic. Hispanic kids are buying the Heroin, mixing the cold medication and selling to other Hispanic kids who then snort the concoction. Also, because one dealer might mix in only 3% Heroin while another might mix in 7% to 10%, the concoction can be deadly.
The cost of a 'Cheese' hit is about $2.
The average age of a user is 14.
Since 2006 the police link 'Cheese' to 4 teen deaths.
The 'Black Tar' Heroin comes mostly from Mexico and to get to Dallas it is coming thru the El Paso - Juarez area.
Arrests........05/06....06/07 (thru Feb.)
High School.....58.......65
Middle School...30.......43
Elementary.......1........0
Alt. Schools*....1.......14
----------------------------
Total...........90......122
*Many of the kids who were arrested in the 05/06 term were sent to alternative schools, where they were arrested again or provided drugs to other kids at a new school.
The concern seems to be that drug dealers have found an avenue to sell heroin (very addictive and usually very expensive) to a new market. Those that try it can become addicted after the first hit and have very severe and very painful withdrawal symptoms after just a couple of hits. So the user starts buying not to get high but to stop the pain.
Another concern stated in the article was that DISD was too slow in recognizing the problem. DISD officials do admit they were slow to react. Some parents have criticized the district for not acting before the drug caused a crisis.
The DISD police hotline for reporting sellers or buyers of 'Cheese' is 214-932-5695.
The DISD police hotline for reporting sellers or buyers of 'Cheese' is 214-932-5695.
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