Pubdate: Thu, 02 Aug 2007
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2007 The Dallas Morning News
Contact:  http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author: Tawnell D. Hobbs

DRUG CZAR LAUDS DALLAS' FIGHT AGAINST 'CHEESE'

Federal Official Visits Area, Meets With Local Task Force

President Bush's drug czar praised Dallas leaders Wednesday for 
fighting "cheese" heroin use among youths - a move he said is vital 
to preventing its spread to other parts of the country.

"That's one of the reasons we're trying to watch this closely," John 
Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control 
Policy, said during a news conference Wednesday at Dallas Independent 
School District headquarters.

Mr. Walters spoke after receiving a briefing from the Cheese Heroin 
Task Force. DISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa, Dallas County 
District Attorney Craig Watkins and some parents whose children died 
of cheese were among those who attended the briefing, which was 
closed to the public.

Mr. Walters said the community's effort to come together to fight 
cheese is impressive. The mix of black tar heroin and crushed 
nighttime cold tablets has been blamed for the deaths of 23 area 
teens since January 2005.

"I came here to hear from those who are working against this terrible 
phenomenon," Mr. Walters said.

Cheese surfaced in five northwest Dallas schools this past school 
year. The drug, which sells for as little as $2 a hit, has greatly 
concerned health-care providers, law enforcement and school district 
officials because of its accessibility and addictiveness. It has been 
known to be used by kids as young as 10.

Mr. Walters said he is working with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, to add 
money to a national media campaign to address cheese.

Mr. Walters also announced Wednesday that six Texas school districts, 
including Ennis, will receive new federal grants, totaling $1.67 
million, to help fund random student drug testing. He said such 
testing could be used as a public health tool to deter students from 
using illegal drugs and help with early intervention.

The Ennis district, about 40 miles south of Dallas, will receive 
$148,566 over three years. Other districts receiving grant money are 
Bloomington, Friendswood, Ganado, La Porte and Mission Consolidated 
school district.

Ennis Superintendent Eddie Dunn said his school board recently voted 
to do random drug testing.

"It seems to me as adults we should be champions of hope; illegal 
drugs kill hope, and we can't let that happen," Dr. Dunn said during 
the news conference.

Mr. Walters acknowledged that random drug testing is controversial.

Some opponents have said it violates students' civil rights. But Mr. 
Walters said students who test positive in random tests cannot be punished.

The Dallas school district is using a federal grant for a voluntary 
drug testing program that requires parental permission. The students 
don't know when they will be tested.

Linda Yater, DISD's executive director for student services, said 
that 12,580 students in sixth grade and up were tested last year, and 
that 97 percent were drug-free.

The No. 1 drug students tested positive for was marijuana, followed 
by methamphetamine and then heroin.

Michelle Hemm, director at Phoenix Academy of Dallas, a 32-bed 
private, residential treatment center, said she hopes the attention 
to cheese will help get funding for residential care for people 
hooked on the drug.

"I'm hopeful that ... the powers that be will look at Dallas," she 
said. "The fact that people have rallied behind this is great."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman