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Dallas County to request funds to treat adolescent Cheese addicts
From Staff Reports
Dallas County Commissioners Court is set to request $500,000 from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention and the National Institute of Health to support local treatment programs to provde a comprehensive, efficent and effective response to the “cheese” heroin epidemic in Dallas County. The funding request addresses the number one issue identified by the Dallas County “Cheese” Heroin Task Force - the lack of available treatment and rehabilitation programs for adolescents. The Task Force was formed in March 2007 to address the cheese heroin epidemic in Dallas County. The funding will be used for implementation of treatment services for “cheese” heroin addicted adolescents, family therapy and recovery support.
“The members of the task force have identified the need for additional modified therapeutic community intensive residential treatment programs in order to combat the growing ‘cheese’ epidemic in Dallas County,” said Zachary Thompson, DCHHS Director. “The number of families seeking treatment for children who are addicted to heroin is far greater than the existing resources can handle. As a result these families, many of whom are uninsured, working class families that do not qualify for Medicaid and cannot afford care, are left with few options.”
Cheese Heroin, a cheap and highly addictive recreational drug, has had a devistating effect on young people across Dallas County. Made by combining heroin and crushed tablets of certain over-the-counter common cold medication, cheese heroin is considered a starter drug and is being used by children as young as 12 years of age. The epidemic of cheese heroin users among middle and high school age students has resulted in the deaths of 22 young people this year.
“This ‘cheese’ heroin phenomenon has not stricken any other community that we know of with the same intensity it has Dallas County,” said Kenneth Mayfield, Dallas County Commissioner District 4. “If we do not marshal the resources necessary to effectively combat this in our own community, it could quickly spread to other parts of Texas and the nation.”
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Dallas County to Request Funding to Treat Adolescents Addicted to Cheese Heroin page 2 of 2 pages
The extent of the cheese heroin problem in Dallas County is reflected in the Juvenile Probation Department. During the 2006-07 school year, on any given day, 55% of the students on campus were referred for heroin possession, many of whom are already addicted to the drug. As a result, the County has exhausted its funding for treatment of adjudicated youth. Also, the county’s placement programs and community support services are operating at capacity.
DCHHS urges parents of children addicted to the recreational drug cheese heroin to seek treatment at a rehabilitation facility so that the symptoms of withdrawal can be properly managed. As with any addiction, seeking rehabilitation during recovery provides optimal outcomes. DCHHS also recommends that parents caring for a child addicted to cheese heroin, which are unable to place the child in a rehabilitation program, consult their local healthcare provider for assistance in dealing with withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms of addiction in users of cheese heroin include sleepiness, difficulty waking up, disorientation, flu-like symptoms, nausea, vomiting, anxiety caused by withdrawal, personality changes, and aggressive behavior.
2377 North Stemmons Freeway Dallas, Texas 75207-2710 Office (214)819-6329
Suite 503 Fax (214)819-2099
“The members of the task force have identified the need for additional modified therapeutic community intensive residential treatment programs in order to combat the growing ‘cheese’ epidemic in Dallas County,” said Zachary Thompson, DCHHS Director. “The number of families seeking treatment for children who are addicted to heroin is far greater than the existing resources can handle. As a result these families, many of whom are uninsured, working class families that do not qualify for Medicaid and cannot afford care, are left with few options.”
Cheese Heroin, a cheap and highly addictive recreational drug, has had a devistating effect on young people across Dallas County. Made by combining heroin and crushed tablets of certain over-the-counter common cold medication, cheese heroin is considered a starter drug and is being used by children as young as 12 years of age. The epidemic of cheese heroin users among middle and high school age students has resulted in the deaths of 22 young people this year.
“This ‘cheese’ heroin phenomenon has not stricken any other community that we know of with the same intensity it has Dallas County,” said Kenneth Mayfield, Dallas County Commissioner District 4. “If we do not marshal the resources necessary to effectively combat this in our own community, it could quickly spread to other parts of Texas and the nation.”
-more-
Dallas County to Request Funding to Treat Adolescents Addicted to Cheese Heroin page 2 of 2 pages
The extent of the cheese heroin problem in Dallas County is reflected in the Juvenile Probation Department. During the 2006-07 school year, on any given day, 55% of the students on campus were referred for heroin possession, many of whom are already addicted to the drug. As a result, the County has exhausted its funding for treatment of adjudicated youth. Also, the county’s placement programs and community support services are operating at capacity.
DCHHS urges parents of children addicted to the recreational drug cheese heroin to seek treatment at a rehabilitation facility so that the symptoms of withdrawal can be properly managed. As with any addiction, seeking rehabilitation during recovery provides optimal outcomes. DCHHS also recommends that parents caring for a child addicted to cheese heroin, which are unable to place the child in a rehabilitation program, consult their local healthcare provider for assistance in dealing with withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms of addiction in users of cheese heroin include sleepiness, difficulty waking up, disorientation, flu-like symptoms, nausea, vomiting, anxiety caused by withdrawal, personality changes, and aggressive behavior.
2377 North Stemmons Freeway Dallas, Texas 75207-2710 Office (214)819-6329
Suite 503 Fax (214)819-2099
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