By Tawnell D. Hobbs and Jason Trahan
The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS — “Cheese” heroin probably claimed the life of another North Texas student, preliminary toxicology tests indicate.
Sergio Leija, 18, was found dead by family members in a car parked in the 3000 block of Northaven Road in northwest Dallas on March 10, according to Dallas police.
Mr. Lieja was a student at W.T. White High School, according to his family.
Further testing to conclude whether Mr. Leija died from cheese heroin is pending. At least 26 North Texas youths 18 and younger have died from cheese overdoses since 2005, according to an ongoing Dallas Morning News analysis.
Cheese is a highly addictive mix of black tar heroin and crushed nighttime cold tablets.
According to Dallas police investigators, Mr. Leija was found in the car’s back seat. Investigators believe he may have been abandoned there by friends he had been with earlier that night. No charges are expected.
Family members told police that Mr. Leija had a problem with cheese heroin a year before his death.
The family declined to discuss the death Tuesday.
News of Mr. Leija’s death was brought forward Tuesday by community activist Carlos Quintanilla.
Mr. Quintanilla, leader of Accion America, contended at a news conference held by his group Tuesday that the Dallas school district isn’t responding to concerns about cheese use.
Mr. Quintanilla also made several demands, including that DISD compensate the families of victims of cheese “while under the care and supervision of DISD” and provide in-school counseling.
“We have been asking for a plan of action from DISD on multiple occasions,” Mr. Quintanilla said.
He added that a class-action lawsuit could be filed against DISD over the issue.
DISD spokesman Jon Dahlander said the district has various strategies in place to deal with cheese, including preventive efforts, such as voluntary drug testing, and collaborations with various agencies, including treatment centers and outside law enforcement.
Mr. Dahlander noted that arrests related to cheese have dropped significantly — down 75 percent from this time last year.
But Mr. Quintanilla believes that drug dealers are getting smarter and that cheese is still a problem.
Copyright 2008 The Dallas Morning News