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Community Members Collaborate to Tackle "Cheese" Heroin

What is it ?
"Cheese" is heroin.

A dangerous combination of Mexican black-tar heroin and nighttime pain relievers has taken a toll on Dallas youth, contributing to lethal overdoses, hospitalizations, and an overwhelming demand for substance abuse treatment and prevention services.

Inhaled heroin is generally "cut" with another substance, such as Benadryl, and is not a new phenomenon. However, the recent outbreak in Dallas is unique for two reasons: (1) Hispanic youth have been impacted disproportionately; and (2) the drug is attracting young teens and pre-teens: many do not realize its potential danger. Children as young as 9 or 10 have presented to school clinics, hospital emergency rooms and drug treatment centers for acute heroin withdrawal.

Cheese/Heroin is Highly Addictive
"Since cheese/heroin is inhaled, rather than injected, some teens do not believe it carries the same risks," says Alison Watros, Prevention Resource Center Program Director at the Council. "It is highly addictive and can potentially lead to injecting heroin use."

Because cheese/heroin is sold for as little as $2 a dose, it is easy for youth to obtain. While it may contain as little as 2% heroin, heroin in any amount is still extremely addictive and life-threatening. Heroin and diphenhydramine HCL (sleep aid) are both depressants and can contribute to respiratory arrest, especially if combined with other depressants such as alcohol.

Community Collaborates to Fight Back
Early in 2007, the Dallas County Cheese/Heroin Task Force was created to improve communication and provide coordinated action planning to attack this drug crisis. Concerned citizens, law enforcement personnel, educators, health professionals, and government officials have joined forces to facilitate accurate data collection, parent and student education, media messages and community outreach.

Debbie Meripolski, Executive Director of the Greater Dallas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, chairs the Task Force. "We've taken a strong proactive approach to this problem by bringing this group of people and agencies together. A collaborative approach has the best chance of achieving positive outcomes." The group represents many community sectors and includes: Dallas County Commission, Dallas ISD, Dallas Police Department, Dallas County Juvenile Department, Dallas County Health Department, DEA, Parkland Hospital, North Texas Poison Control, community advocates, substance abuse treatment centers and prevention providers.

The Task Force, a group of more than 60 community leaders and representatives from these agencies, is organized into seven focused workgroups: Data Collection, Prevention/Education, Treatment, Law Enforcement, Recovery, Media Relations, and Fundraising

Although we never can do enough to ensure the safety of our youth, significant work has been done to tackle the problems associated with inhaled heroin:

Five one-day professional conferences were held to train school, health and law enforcement professionals.
Law enforcement agencies stepped up enforcement in the most heavily affected schools and neighborhoods, resulting in increased arrests for heroin possession and distribution.
School representatives strategically planned and implemented parent academies, student-created prevention messages, increased teacher and counselor training, treatment re-entry protocols, and unique prevention campaigns.
The Today Foundation designated funds for the creation and printing, in both English and Spanish, of prevention posters and flyers.
Prevention providers launched new educational programs utilizing evidence-based in-school curriculum, presentations, street outreach, and broad distribution of materials, printed in both English and Spanish. Partial funding was obtained from the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Public awareness campaigns are broadcasted regularly. Fox 4 donated the production of public service announcements in both English and Spanish. The Texas Attorney General allocated monies to purchase broadcast time above and beyond what Fox, Univision and Telemundo were already providing pro bono.
Substance abuse treatment providers have been working with one another and with the state to maximize treatment options for youth who have become addicted to heroin.

The Task Force message is that heroin by any other name is still heroin, and heroin is extremely dangerous. Drug pushers are attempting to market this product by giving it a cute name and selling it cheaply, but it is still a highly addictive and harmful drug. Task Force members continue to meet regularly and work diligently to reduce the availability and use of this drug. In 2009, they expanded their focus to include other drugs and changed their name to "Dallas Area Drug Prevention Partnership." For more information, contact dmeripolski@gdcada.org.

"Cheese" Heroin Resources

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