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May 1, 2008 10:35 pm US/Central
Ex-"Cheese" User Talks About Growing Problem
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Dallas police say the "Cheese" heroin problem in the city's public schools has exploded in recent weeks.
Over the course of two weeks, police have made 11 arrests at two middle schools and four high schools.
Dallas police call the recent spike in arrests for possession significant. School district officials call it slight.
"We're down more than 76 percent at last count from last year. That doesn't mean that it's completely gone away," said DISD spokesperson Jon Dahlander. "We obviously have an issue out there we need to address."
Thomas Jefferson is one of several schools infiltrated by the drug.
Crystal Mendoza, a student and former cheese user, said students use the drug in classrooms, bathrooms even the auditorium.
"If you buy $10, five kids could do it," said Mendoza. "They'll do it in the morning in the auditorium - they share."
Mendoza said she was offered a line of cheese heroin for her birthday. The 16-year-old freshman snorted it inside North Dallas High School.
"I sat down and when I woke up I was on my way to the hospital," said Mendoza.
Now Mendoza spends her days at home with her mother. She also attends rehab.
Martha Mendoza blames the Dallas Independent School District for her daughter's overdose.
She's outraged that students are able to buy, sell and use cheese under the nose of teachers and administrators on school grounds.
"I thought I sent my daughter to school to learn to get an education, not to do drugs," she said.
Since cheese first appeared in schools in 2005, the mixture of heroin and Tylenol P.M. has taken students lives, including three this year.
Dallas police say they had a 56 percent increase in heroin seizures so far this year.
Crystal Mendoza knows she's fortunate to have survived what she says was her last encounter with the drug.
Some citizen groups are planning a meeting on Saturday to urge DISD to make public the number of arrests and number of students who test positive.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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