DALLAS – A new kind of heroin known as “cheese” has emerged on the Dallas drug scene, claiming the lives of 21 teenagers in the last 2 years according to CNN.
The drug contains a mixture of black tar Mexican heroin and over-the-counter medicines with antihistamine diphenhydramine, such as Tylenol PM. According to Dallas police, the double-sedative combination kills by slowing down the body until the user’s heart stops. For those who survive, symptoms include lethargy, euphoria, thirst and disorientation.
Cheese appears to have a particular appeal for middle school students. The attraction could be partially due to price. The drug is cheap – $2 for a single hit or $10 per gram. It is also easy to use because it is taken by inhaling through a straw or a ballpoint pen.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is currently working to prevent the spread of cheese to the rest of the country, a task made more difficult by the widespread use of the Internet and cell phones.
In Dallas, authorities are raising awareness by speaking at schools, PTA meetings and opening up a hotline number for those seeking help, but the numbers are still rising. The amount of drug users entering treatment centers for cheese now rivals the number marijuana addicts.
