By By: Sujata Dand
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-591386.mp3
Dallas, TX –
Sujata Dand, Reporter: About a hundred parents and caregivers arrived at Foster elementary school in Northwest Dallas Wednesday night wanting more information on the drug Cheese. Last week, authorities said 3 students were found in the boys' bathroom encouraging other students to try a powdery white substance. Tests revealed that the ground up mixture was Tylenol PM - one part of the combination for making cheese. District officials didn't waste time alerting parents. Mike Ralston is the director of parental involvement for DISD.
Mike Ralston, Director of Parental Involvement, DISD: Sometime children in elementary school have siblings in middle school and high school and they may be waiting in line for being approached by drug dealer or being lured into a drug habit.
Dand: At least 200 minors have been detained in Dallas schools over the last 2 years for possession of the drug cheese. Elena Camacho's cousin was caught giving the drug to other students.
Elena Camacho, Dallas student: My cousin introduced the cheese to my sister, at the beginning, she would just do it for fun - like all of the kids do it right now - cause everyone is doing it so they could be cool and then she started to do it and do it and do it and then she got addicted to it.
Dand: 19 year old Karina Camacho has been missing for two months. Elena says she also tried the drug a couple of years ago - and she's seen kids as young as nine snorting the mixture.
Ralston: A lot of parents are afraid. Some people who have died from using the drug, it was their first experience with drugs.
Dand: School officials are concerned drug use among students will increase during the next few months - so they are directing parents to summer programs hoping scheduled activities will keep kids out of trouble- For KERA 90.1 I'm Sujata Dand.
Dallas Parks and Recreation Dept.