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The Greater Dallas Council’s mission is to improve our communities’ health, safety,
and productivity by reducing the incidence and impact of alcohol and drug abuse.

"Cheese" Heroin Resources Video  

Community Members Collaborate to Tackle "Cheese" Heroin

A dangerous combination of heroin and nighttime pain relievers, known on the streets as "cheese," has taken a toll on Dallas youth, contributing to as many as 20 deaths in the past two years, countless trips to hospitals, and an overwhelming demand for substance abuse treatment services.

Earlier this year, a 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 and are facilitating accurate data collection, parent and student education, media messages, and community outreach.

"Cheese" is a highly addictive mixture of black tar heroin ground up with nighttime pain relievers, frequently Tylenol PM, and sold for as little as $2 a dose. Most believe that it got the name "cheese" because of its appearance, similar to that of ground parmesan cheese. While it has a deceptively innocent name, it can be potentially lethal. The combination may contain only 2 to 8 percent heroin, but even that amount has been contributing to heroin addiction among Dallas youth as young as nine. Task Force leaders are particularly concerned that cheese/heroin is attracting young teens and pre-teens, many of whom may not realize its potential dangers. "Since cheese/heroin is inhaled, rather than injected, some teens do not believe it carries the same risks," says Alison Watros, Program Director of the Region 3 Prevention Resource Center. "In fact, it is addictive, and it has the potential to lead to injected heroin use."

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