Nowadays, if parents hear their children talking about wanting some cheese, they may need to do a little investigating in order to discover if the cheese their children want is healthy for them.

According to information provided by Fort Scott Police officer Toby Nighswonger, school resource officer for USD 234, cheese is the name of a new drug sweeping the nation. Cheese, a starter form of heroine, is usually found folded inside a small paper bundle.

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This drug, which contains acetaminophen, diphenhydramine and up to eight percent heroine, is enslaving teens as young as 13 years of age.

According to the information available, cheese is light in color and is snorted by its victims.

"Typically described as a light tan-colored powder with granules varying from fine powder to 1.5 millimeters in size. In a similar fashion to snorting cocaine, cheese is snorted through a tube into the nose," the statement said.

The side-effects that those who experiment with cheese may encounter could be euphoria, disorientation, leth-argy, sleepiness and or hunger. According to the written information provided by Nighswonger, cheese is highly addictive.

"As heroin has proven to be highly addictive, cheese appears to follow in the same characteristic, and symptoms of withdrawal may onset as fast as within 12 hours of cessation of use," the written statement said.

According to information provided by the Dallas (Texas) Police Department, www.dallascityhall.com, some of the withdrawal symptoms may include mood swings, insomnia, headache, chills, nausea, vomiting, muscle spasms, muscle and bone pain, anxiety, agitation and disorientation. These side effects may last five to six days.

The Dallas Police Department warns that overdose of cheese or combining it with other depressants such as alcohol could cause respiratory arrest and death.

One characteristic that attracts youth to cheese, in addition to the high that it gives, is the cost. Cheese can usually be purchased for anywhere from $2 for a single hit to $10 for a gram. This makes it affordable for even young teenagers.

The information provided by Nighswonger suggested that those interested in drug prevention should work together to create drug prevention plans.

"Parties truly interested in making a change need to work together to organize and develop plans and programs to coordinate anti-drug efforts. A comprehensive, community-wide approach to substance abuse and its related problems will be the result. At the center of the approach must be effective prevention and rehabilitation methods," the statement said. "Education, that is, drug education has to be the first step. As a society that desires a drug free world, we must step up and take responsibility for educating our children. Do not forget; our children are our future."

Nighswonger, the local police department and the local school system have taken these suggestions to heart. They have stepped up and joined together in order to provide the drug education needed for local youth to be able to combat this national epidemic. Thus far, local efforts have paid off, according to Nighswonger.

"We are making our schools as safe as possible," Nighswonger said. "USD 234 and the police department are very proactive."

For more information about specific drugs or drug-related concerns, contact Nighswonger at tnighs-wonger@usd234.org or at (620) 223-1700.