General

Designer drug played no part in ‘zombie’ attack, examiner says

Police say the “bath salts” drug had no part in the brutal cannibalism attack against a homeless man in Miami. Rudy Eugene, 31, was dubbed the “Miami Zombie” after he chewed off the face of a homeless man on the MacArthur Causeway in late May. He was then shot to death by Miami police.

It was first thought Eugene was high on a designer street-drug that usually contains at least one amphetamine, like methylone or mephedrone. It can smoked, snorted, or injected, and can cause hallucinations, paranoia, and violent behavior. But not only did Eugene not have bath salts in his system, there was no evidence of LSD, cocaine, heroin, PCP, oxycodone, or amphetamines. The only drug he had in his system, according to medical examiner reports, was marijuana.

Bath salts have thought to be at the root of several attacks, including a 20-year-old who attacked a 77-year-old woman with a shovel.

The U.S. Senate has since passed a new drug legislation that would permanently ban bath salts—all it needs it President Obama’s signature.

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