A New Heroin High: Cheese

It's been around the Texas area for about two years. So far, it has killed 200 children, and sent many more into drug rehab. What's troubling about this new "designer" heroin is it's relatively low cost and use by children who haven't been into narcotics before. Where does it come from? Mexico, smuggled in and dealt out by Hispanic street dealers and gang members.

This is very bad news for law enforcement and parents. Because the cost ranges from as low as $2.00 to a high of $10.00 per packet, most children can afford this potent and very dangerous high. What exactly is cheese? It's the name for a product derived from black tar heroin, known to kids as "mickey" juice. a street dealer sells to another kid, who adds Tylenol PM crushed and mixed with water The product is then "cooked", evaporating the liquid, until the product looks like brown grainy powder. It is then sold in folded notebook paper for a set price.

This is a trend I can foresee spreading throughout the West and Midwest very soon, if it hasn't happened already. Why? It's cheap, portable and very lucrative to major dealers. Signs of increasing heroin traffic have been apparent for quite some time. In Tacoma Washington, less than 24 hours ago, DEA busted a major heroin shipment and arrested what they believe are mid-level dealers. They seized 55 pounds of Mexican black tar heroin with an estimated street value of $2.5 million dollars. Along with the illegal drugs they also arrested two Mexicans for drug possession and having weapons.

While this was the largest bust in Tacomas history, it sends a clear signal about the market for this junk.

Meanwhile in Austin Texas, Martin Ramirez Laguna was arrested for possession of $14,000 worth of the sticky black tar heroin. It could have potentially netted $90,000 in revenue in sales of cheese. It could have created over 43,000 "hits" of this increasingly popular drug.

The drug is characterized as a "starter" drug that is snorted, and can be used by very young children who are told it is not addictive. Drug Free lists these symptoms of cheese use:

Short-term Effects:
• disorientation
• lethargy
• sleepiness
• hunger
• severe headaches
• chills
• muscle pains & spasms
• anxiety
• agitation
• disassociation

Long-term Effects:
• addiction
• collapsed veins
• infection of the heart lining and valves
• respiratory depression or failure
• abscesses
• cellulites
• liver disease
• pulmonary complications including pneumonia
• clogging of blood vessels
• cold flashes with goose bumps
• involuntary kicking movements

Talk to your children about this new drug and educate them about the reality of heroin addiction. Make certain they understand the physical danger, as well as the fact that heroin is highly addictive in any form. Show them the brief slide show in my links so they fully know and understand what to avoid. The best defense against this rapidly growing epidemic is communication, education and trust. Don't wait until it's too late to talk with your children.