Behold the Dangerous Power of Cheese

Behold the Dangerous Power of Cheese

Lancaster Intelligencer Journal April 19, 2008

By: Stanley Marsh

A Lancaster teen was hospitalized yesterday from urea poisoning, as a result of “cheesing.” Cheesing is a new phenomenon among high school aged teens, wherein cat urine is used to achieve a drug-like high through inhalation or smoking.

The “high” achieved from Cheesing is actually the premature sign of urea poisoning, a result of increased ammonia intoxication into the bloodstream. Urea poisoning, which can occur in as little as 10 minutes after the initial “high,” is recognizable through frothy salivation, grinding of the teeth, rapid breathing, muscle tremors, and seizure-like activity. In extreme cases, urea or ammonia poisoning can lead to death.

The hospitalized teen, whose name has been withheld due to family request, was taken by ambulance to Lancaster County Hospital at 8:14 Friday evening after a friend phoned 911 due to the teen’s compulsive shaking. The teen was given IV fluids and monitored overnight before being released early Saturday morning.

The hospitalized teen reportedly learned about Cheesing from a classmate, “[We] were bored on a Friday night, and heard about Cheesing at school, so we strung my Mom’s cat up with stirrups, and tickled her belly ‘till she Cheesed on us…I felt great for a few minutes but then passed out…”

This is the third, and most serious Cheesing incident reported this month in the Lancaster area. Cheesing is becoming a public health concern, but the Lancaster County public health director couldn’t be reached for comment. If you know someone who may be cheesing, contact the Lancaster County Board of Public Health at 717-299-7597.