POLICE KEEPING EYES OPEN FOR NEW STREET DRUG 'CHEESE'

VANCOUVER -- Drug experts are closely monitoring the emergence of a
dangerous new street drug known as 'cheese' that has already 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 being 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.