A shrine to Logan Stephenson was set up at Greenbrier High School following his death last week.(Photo: Nicole Young/ Robertson County Times)
A deadly concoction<span style="color: Red;">*</span>called "Dewshine," could be to blame for the deaths of two Tennessee teenagers,
whose cases are among the first reported in Tennessee, according to health officials.
To date, there have been four cases, all originating from Robertson County, Tenn., involving the possible consumption of "Dewshine" according to the Donna Seger, medical director of the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Tennessee Poison Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
On Thursday, authorities were called to the Franklin Farms home of 16-year-old Logan Stephenson, who was found dead in his bed.
Within minutes, they were called to a second home, on Cemetery Road, because the boy’s best friend had begun having seizures, Greenbrier Police Chief K.D. Smith<span style="color: Red;">*</span>said.
USA TODAY
Second teen dies after drinking racing fuel mixed with Mountain Dew
Authorities have not released the identity of the second teen.
Here's an explainer on what<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"Dewshine" is made of,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and what can happen to those who drink it.
What is "Dewshine"?
"Dewshine" is a<span style="color: Red;">*</span>mixture of Mountain Dew and racing fuel.
Racing fuel, used in drag racing, is made up of almost 100%<span style="color: Red;">*</span>methanol, a non-drinkable form of alcohol used for industrial and automotive purposes, Seger said.
What are the side effects of drinking methanol?<span style="color: Red;">*</span>
Initially, methanol can give the same effects as ethanol, which is used in the production of alcoholic beverages, but over time, it can result in symptoms ranging from blurred vision, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea to seizures, blindness, coma and death, depending on the amount and concentration of the methanol that was consumed, Seger said.
Methanol is extremely poisonous and as little as two tablespoons can be deadly to a child, according to the National Institutes of Health website.
About two to eight ounces can be deadly for an adult, and the success of treatment is often determined by how much poison a person swallowed and how soon he or she received medical attention, the website said.
Heath workers are not aware of how prevalent Dewshine consumption is among Tennesseans, Seger said.
Follow<span style="color: Red;">*</span>@nyoung80<span style="color: Red;">*</span>on Twitter.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>
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