Cheese Heroin

A Dangerous Combination of Drugs

Cheese heroin is a mixture of black tar heroin and an over the counter cold medication, usually Tylenol PM. Black tar heroin is a form of heroin produced primarily in Mexico and typically known for its lower purity and cheaper price.

In cheese heroin, black tar heroin is mixed with a crushed cold medicine containing the analgesic, acetaminophen, plus diphenhydramine, which is an antihistamine, sedative, and hypnotic. The result is a crumbly beige powder that may have been named for its resemblance to grated parmesan cheese. The user snorts the powder through a straw or ballpoint pen.

A Dangerous Combination of Drugs

What makes the drug so dangerous is a combination of several factors. It combines heroin, which is a highly addictive depressant, with other drugs that also slow the nervous system. In high dosages or in combination with other depressants, such as alcohol, the effect can be fatal.

Also, the analgesic, acetaminophen can cause serious liver damage, and with high dosages or prolonged use, can be fatal all by itself. Diphenhydramine, the third drug in the combination, can cause hallucinations, delirium and confusion.

Repeated usage of Cheese heroin can quickly result in addiction. The drug is also referred to as “starter heroin” since it can start a heroin addiction leading to other more expensive forms.

Cheese heroin is an ugly new twist in adolescent drug use, that’s targeting the youngest population. The important thing is to educate the kids early so they understand the reality before they make a mistake that could be fatal.