Pubdate: Sun, 27 May 2007
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2007 The Edmonton Journal
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: CanWest News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

'CHEESE' NOT A PROBLEM IN CANADA ... YET

VANCOUVER - Drug experts are closely monitoring the emergence of a 
dangerous new street drug known as "cheese" which has been blamed for 
more than a dozen deaths in the United States.

RCMP Sgt. Scott Rintoul of the Drug and Organized Crime Awareness 
office said they have been hearing reports about the deadly 
concoction, which is made by blending black tar heroin and Tylenol PM.

"It's not yet an issue up here," said Rintoul Friday of reports 
"cheese" has been linked to up to 19 deaths in the American South.

School officials in Dallas claim "cheese" has been a concern for two 
years. In February, 122 people were arrested there for possessing the 
drug, with the average age of those arrested 14.

Despite "cheese" being a heroin-based drug, American addiction 
experts are worried youths will not realize how deadly it is because 
of its street name. Kids in the U.S. are often buying it from other 
kids and it can be as cheap as $2 a dose which can be smoked or 
snorted instead of injected with a needle.

"There is no evidence to support it being here," added Rintoul. 
"You'd see it in Montreal, Toronto or here and we're not hearing of 
it which is a good thing," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman