Dangerous drugs with new names out on the street
Drug dealers are now provid ing dangerous drugs to very young children, using names like "cheese" and "strawberry quick." This is a dangerous new trend, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reports.
"Cheese" is a combination of black tar heroin and crushed up Tylenol PM tablets and hits of it sell for $1 or $2. Like any type of heroin, "cheese" is highly addic tive and deadly.
"They're looking for a new consumer," says James Capra, the special agent in charge of the DEA office in Dallas, Texas. "They've taken the tactic that ad vertising people have taken for years; you want to sell a product, you've got do a good marketing approach to it."
There is also a type of crystal meth (speed) going around that looks like strawberry pop rocks (the candy that sizzles and "pops" in your mouth). It also smells like strawberry and it is being handed out to kids in schoolyards. The dealers are calling it "strawberry meth" or "strawberry quick."
Thinking that it is candy, kids are ingesting strawberry meth and then being rushed off to the hospital in dire condition. It also comes in chocolate, peanut butter, cola, cherry, grape and orange.
I invite readers to call me at (609) 396-5874 if they want more information.
-- CHIP MEARA, Trenton The writer is community educator for the Mercer Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction, which has been providing alcohol and drug education, assessment and referral services for more than 25 years
