‘Bath Salts’ Implicated in Two Separate Cannibalistic Incidences in a Two-Week Period

June 28, 2012

In less than two weeks time, two completely different episodes of a man biting the face of another man have occurred and the street drug known as “bath salts” appears to be the impetus for the bizarre behavior in both cases. The original case made headlines across the country when police found a naked man eating the face of another individual. The man, later identified as Rudy Eugene, 31, of Miami, Florida, had taken off 75 percent of the man’s face before police shot him dead. Police and emergency room doctors said this behavior is indicative of someone high on bath salts.

Next, a similar incident in Louisiana made the news. In this more recent case, a man’s neighbor attacked him and bit off a chunk of his face while he was in the middle of working on his yard. The victim defended himself by spraying bug killer in the attacker’s face who then went on to hold another individual hostage at knifepoint before stealing a gun.

What Makes Individuals on Bath Salts So Aggressive?

A synthetic group of chemicals called cathinones is the active ingredient in bath salts. One cathinone often used in these stimulant drugs is known to chemists as mephedrone or methylenedioxypyrovalerone, commonly called MDPV. The experience of abusing these chemicals is similar to that of illegal narcotics like meth and cocaine, except with a higher level of aggressive behavior towards others. Emergency room doctors in certain regions of the US have actually seen a rise in the use of people using their jaws as a weapon after using the drug, which may partially explain the strange nature of the previous two cases.

Bath salts are a powdery substance that may be inhaled, eaten, smoked or injected. Those who abuse the drug may experience any or all of the following issues:

Sweating
Nausea
Vomiting
Aggression
Anxiety
Depression
Hallucinations
Seizures
Delusions

If Bath Salts Are So Dangerous Why Are They Still Legal?

Bath salts are sold both on the Internet and in convenience stores around the country. They are still legal due to loopholes in the law that should be closed. It is well known by law enforcement that bath salts are a mind-altering substance, but the chemicals most often found in them do not have any laws on the books against them. In an attempt to correct this, in October 2011 the DEA issued an emergency ban on mephedrone. However, to stay “legal,” some manufacturers have switched to the chemical naphyrone, which unfortunately is said to be 10 times stronger than cocaine and more potent than other chemical cathinones and, therefore, may cause even more dangerous situations to arise.

Why do you think no legislation has been introduced to stop the legal sale of bath salts? Do you think it has to do with the current push to legalize some drugs for medical and recreational use? Let us know your thoughts below.