Texas PTA issues correction to “strawberry quick” e-mail

The Texas PTA has issued a correction to their e-mail claiming that methamphetamine dealers were disguising the drug as candy in order to get children to try it. We reposted that e-mail, and somehow our post was linked at Reason.com, and commenters called us out for passing along incorrect information. We looked into it (something, frankly, we didn’t think we needed to do before given the source) and edited the original post to reflect reality. It just goes to show that the journalist’s maxim may be truer in the Internet age: If your mother says she loves you, check it out.

Here’s Texas PTA’s e-mail:

Texas PTA works closely with Texas Crime Stoppers and Attorney General Greg Abbott.  In December, at the request of Texas Crime Stoppers, Texas PTA released information about “strawberry quick,” which generated several questions.  As a result, Texas PTA consulted with Texas Crime Stoppers about your questions, and officials at Texas Crime Stoppers wrote an apology to Texas PTA with a correction found below.

Texas Crime Stoppers Response Concerning Strawberry Quick

A Texas Crime Stoppers internal investigation of a methamphetamine-laced drug being marketed to school age children in Texas called “strawberry quick” has found that it does not exist in Texas. Dr. Jane Maxwell, with the Gulf Coast Addiction Technology Transfer Center, University of Texas at Austin was consulted on the existence of “strawberry quick.” She replied to this staffer that “strawberry-quick is a myth, and an urban legend.” This office regrets the passing of information to our friends at the Texas PTA without investigating the validity of the information sent to us from a Juvenile Probation office in Central Texas.

However, the Dallas office of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Public Information Office confirmed that there had been an epidemic of “cheese” heroin in the Dallas area and use of heroin (whether or not nicknamed as “cheese”) by youths and young adults across Texas is growing. For background on the cheese heroin problem, see http://www.utexas.edu/research/cswr/gcattc/documents/cheeseheroin12-31-07_000.pdf)

Rumors about new drugs or drugs targeted to children can occur in this field, but the fact that “strawberry quick” is not present in Texas in no way invalidates the urge to caution and to be fully aware regarding drug and alcohol promotion or usage amongst our Texas children. Forewarned is forearmed.

Despite the nonsequitur about “cheese” heroin (which isn’t disguised as food, but is named for its appearance), the last paragraph is true. Though we don’t want to chase after shadows and moonbeams, we do need to be vigilant about drugs and children, and if the cost of that is the occasional false start, it’s something we’ll have to live with.

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Volunteers Needed for Jump Rope for Heart on Saturday

This Saturday will be our second annual American Heart Association‘s Jump Rope for Heart.  This is an event sponsored by the PE department that raises funds to help children with heart problems, and encourages good health and exercise through the fun of jumping rope.  To learn more about this program, you can visit the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart website: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2360.

Coach Jenson and Coach Iverson need your help to make this event a success and fun for the students.  We’ll need parents to help with sign-in/registration and to supervise the snack table.  Here are the details:

Jump Rope For Heart

• Saturday, January 16
• 8:30am – approx 11am
• Myers Gym  (You may park in the teachers parking lot next to the bus loop and main playground area, and enter Gym through its outside entrance.)

Time Table

• 8:30am Volunteers are asked to arrive for instruction and set-up.
• 9:00am – 9:30am : Sign-in/registration (registration may run a little longer for those who come later.)
• 9:30am – 10:30am : Having fun jumping rope!
• 10:30am : Prizes awarded to jumpers

Healthy snacks will be available throughout the event.

Kids and parents alike are welcomed to participate in this event.  There will be several different activities to do involving jump ropes! Everyone had a great time last year and we hope you join us this year either as a volunteer, participant, or even a spectator. So come dressed comfortably and wear your sneakers!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact PTA President Desiree Arenas via e-mail or by telephone.

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Nevermind (Was: New Drug in Schools)

UPDATE: Apparently this is a hoax that has taken in Texas PTA and Fox News. While there apparently is not any known instances of drug dealers using candy-like substances to lure children, the advice to warn your kids against accepting items of unknown origin and especially from strangers is valid.

From the Texas PTA Legislative Alert:

This is a new drug known as ‘strawberry quick ‘:

There is a very scary thing going on in the schools right now that we all need to be aware of.

There is a type of crystal meth going around that looks like strawberry pop rocks (the candy that sizzles and ‘pops’ in your mouth). It also smells like strawberry and it is being handed out to kids in school yards. They are calling it strawberry meth or strawberry quick.

Kids are ingesting this thinking that it is candy and are being rushed off to the hospital in dire condition. It also comes in chocolate, peanut butter, cola, cherry, grape and orange.

Please instruct your children not to accept candy from strangers – not even candy that looks like this from a friend (who may have been given it and believed it is candy) They should take any of this “candy” that they may have to a teacher, principal or parent immediately.

Pass this email on to as many people as you can (even if they don’t have kids) so that we can raise awareness and hopefully prevent any tragedies from occurring.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,271215,00.html

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Let’s Fight Flu Together

National PTA President Chuck Saylors asks that parents learn how to fight the looming influenza pandemic.

President Chuck Saylors delivers message to join the Let’s Fight Flu Together campaign

For more information, go to Flu.gov, the Texas Department of State Health Services, or San Antonio’s public health team, Metro Health.

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Garden Club needs volunteers (and a tiller!)

Myers Elementary has a Garden Club that tends to the garden in the courtyard.  Mr. McDermott, 4th grade teacher and the Garden Club sponsor, would like your help in beautifying our school!  He is also looking for a tiller.  If you are willing to help, please contact Mr. McDermott for more information.  (Green thumbs NOT required!)
Contact:
Michael McDermott
397-6650 ext. 3101
michaelmcdermott@nisd.net

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