Tarrant County confirms first 'cheese' death

Tarrant County has its first confirmed death by cheese, a cheap drug made by combining heroin with over-the-counter allergy medications.

Staff Writer Paul Bourgeois reports that the Tarrant County medical examiner this week confirmed the cause of death for James David Burnette, 17, of Arlington.

Burnette, a recent graduate of Martin High School, died at his home on July 31, four days before his 18th birthday.

The medical examiner ruled his death accidental but determined he had taken a combination of heroin and diphenhydramine, more commonly known as cheese. The drug is shown in the above file photo.

Drug prevention experts predict more deaths are on the way because cheese currently sells for about $2 a hit, well within the spending power of Metroplex teens.

-- Bill Miller