CSI Miami Unvails new drug "Cheese"

Blog October 28, 2008

CSI

This weekend I was watching CSI: Miami, as I do most weekends. However this weekend the episode that I was watching showcased a very interesting phenomenon. In this episode there was a substitute teacher who was getting kids to sell drugs for him. A new drug called “cheese”. Cheese is a drug that contains heroin and over the counter cold medication. It is commonly used by watering down heroin and combining it with Tylenol PM. He was getting the kids to sell it by giving them new “cool” shoes. Weird! Not to mention creepy. But anyways, my point is that I have not heard much about this “cheese” drug. I work at a rehab and I have never known anyone who has used this. Now I am not saying that it is not prevalent, I am sure it is, I just have not heard of it here in southern California. So, since it is news to me I am thinking that it is news to you. Therefore, I will educate you. Cheese has mainly been linked to the Dallas, Texas area so far but just as with all drugs, news travels fast. Black tar heroin contains 30% heroin and cheese contains anywhere from 2-8%. It can be bought as a powder and it is used by sniffing it, it is not usually injected such as traditional heroin. Cheese first became known when it was found in due to arrests, and in elementary, middle and high schools in Dallas, Texas between 2005 and 2007. It is basically known as the “gateway drug” to heroin. It is also commonly used by young kids, some still in elementary school. Between April 2006 and February 2007 there were 71 teen drug users arrested (ages 10-16) in the Dallas area. Dalas rehabs and adolescent drug treatment centers started admitting younger and younger kids, where before they were 15-17 years old, they are now admitting 11-13 year olds. Cheese is also considered a cheap drug. It goes for about $2 a hit and $10 a gram. Cheese looks like a tanish-brown powder and is usually folded up in notebook paper. Drug dealers are targeting adolescents and kids by putting this drug in an easy to use powder form, making it more affordable and giving such an innocent name. They are calling it the most addictive and deadly drug since crack-cocaine.

The Cheese

In 2005 a new and deadly recreational drug emerged on the street market, focused towards pre-teens and teenagers alike. “Cheese” or “Cheeze” is the mixing of one illegal drug (Heroin) with a legal drug (Tylenol PM). Tylenol PM is a combination of Acetaminophen and Diphenhydramine (the main ingredient of Benadryl). Heroin by itself is a potent and highly addictive opiate narcotic which can be very expensive; therefore it can be very difficult or next to impossible for young people to afford and maintain a habit. Drug dealers, as always, took it upon themselves to find a way to make it affordable. When they cut the drug with Tylenol PM it makes a less potent and less expensive, yet still addictive, street drug.

People are not injecting or smoking “Cheese”, rather the standard form of consumption is snorting; snorting drugs like Amphetamines (i.e. Ritalin) and Cocaine is common in middle and high school, so naturally “Cheese” would be consumed the same way. A line of “Cheese” ($2) is much cheaper than a line of cocaine ($10) these days; however, the dangers of snorting “Cheese” are much greater with regard to overdose.

The combination of different drugs in “Cheese” has proven fatal in a number of cases throughout Texas; Dallas seems to have become the epicenter of this new and deadly drug. The human liver can only process so many things at one time, especially in younger under developed bodies such as teenagers. The other issue with “Cheese” is the level of purity with regard to the varying percentage of heroin from one batch of “Cheese” to another. A teenager may be under the impression that the amount of the drug he did yesterday will affect him the same way today with a new batch. These inconsistencies can and will prove fatal with continued usage.

If you are a parent and may have knowledge of your child using “Cheese” or any other opiate narcotic, and are interested in getting help or more information you are at the right place. Seek help before any more damage can be done, “Cheese” is very dangerous and will only lead to continued and potentially more fatal drug use.