Feb 19, 2007 5:47 pm US/Central
'Cheese' Drug Claims Life Of Middle School Student
by Brooke Richie
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
Parents call it a disturbing trend, a dangerous cocktail of drugs growing in popularity with middle school aged students.
The drug's street name is 'Cheese.' It's a toxic mix of heroin and Tylenol PM. 'Cheese' is a tan-colored powder that's inexpensive to buy. It's only two or three dollars a 'bump.'
Over the weekend, 'Cheese' may have claimed the life of 15-year-old Oscar Gutierrez.
Oscar's mother, Olga Sanchez, said this was not her son's first experience with 'Cheese'. He had already had a brush with death. Olga said he overdosed on the drug a year ago. He swore to her he had quit.
Olga said her son tried to calm her nerves, "He would always tell me, 'Mommy, I'm not using anything anymore. I'm okay. You don't trust me?'"
The eighth grader went to a party Saturday night, came home and died in his sleep. His family and friends believe 'Cheese' was to blame.
"I think the drug was stronger than he was," Olga said.
Some parents in the Dallas school district said usage is growing at alarming rates. They said Oscar's death must be used as a wakeup call.
"Today we have to declare war on 'Cheese,'" said activist Carlos Quintanilla. "We have to declare war on heroin, Tylenol, because it means death to our children."
It will also mean a funeral on Wednesday for Olga's middle son. She hopes other parents will learn from her pain.
"Check on them, communicate with them, have confidence in them," Olga said. "Talk to them more about this, because they find this anywhere."
DISD officials confirmed more than 75 cases of 'Cheese' on school campuses within the last year. They also said they are working on the problem.
(CBS 11 News)
