Heroin abuse appears to be increasing especially among teens and young adults in Texas. Mexican black tar and brown powdered heroin are the most common forms abused in Texas. Cheese heroin is another form of the drug that's been problematic in the past with many adolescents dying from the substance in Dallas, Texas and appears to still be a concern among users. Cheese heroin is a recreational drug that's a combination of heroin and crushed medication that can be purchased over the counter like Tylenol PM. The mixture includes heroin, diphenhydramine, and acetaminophen.

The form of heroin that is the most predominant in Texas is black tar heroin. This is a gummy dark and oily substance that is diluted with water and then injected. The brown Mexican heroin is black tar heroin that's cut with another substance and turned into a powder form and either injected or inhaled.

Other opiate drugs that are abused and continue to increase in abuse are painkillers. A combination of hydrocodone, alprazolam and carisoprodol is referred to as "Houston Cocktail" or "Holy Trinity" which is also abused among some people in Texas and very dangerous. Other opiates that are cause for concern among users include hydrocodone, methadone, codeine, oxycodone, buprenorphine, hydromorphone, morphine, meperidine and opium.

Cocaine is a very available drug in certain parts of Texas like El Paso. Crack cocaine and powdered cocaine are also easy to find in many areas throughout Texas. The state of Texas is considered a transshipment and distribution area for cocaine that gets transported to different locations throughout the U.S.

Methamphetamine is another drug that's easy to find in Texas and many people abuse the drug. There are also small local illegal labs producing meth and it's common for meth cooks to use the one pot method or shake and bake method for producing small amounts of the drug. Most of the meth found in Texas comes from Mexico though and the purity levels are around 94%. Many meth users in Texas are in need of intensive and long term treatment due to the mental and physical damages meth use has caused

Throughout Texas marijuana is very easy to find and is the most widely abused drug among substance users. Marijuana is commonly abused by young people in blunt and joint form. The abuse of spice is also a growing problem among substance users as well.

Alcohol is the main drug that's abused in Texas among young and older adults and many school aged kids abuse alcohol too. 2Young2Drink is sponsored by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and is part of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention which enforces underage drinking laws. 2Young2Drink is a website that's intended for students, parents, law enforcement and other community members with an interest in preventing underage drinking.

Tobacco is also abused by people in Texas in all age groups and is a common drug of choice among teens and young adults as well. Texas DSHS Tobacco Prevention and Control aims to reduce the health effects and economic toll tobacco has placed on their citizens.

DSHS is the Department of State Health Services and their Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Sections funds around 200 schools and community based programs statewide to prevent the use and consequences of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs among youth and families in Texas.