Scientists try to find out why “bath salts” send users crazy - ten times as strong as cocaine

Drug behind America’s spat of “zombie attack” causes ongoing and lasting damage to user’s psyche

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The synthetic and highly dangerous drug "bath salts"

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Researchers have discovered that the synthetic drug MDPV, with the street name “bath salts,” can leave users struggling with the effects for days.

The US National Science Foundation has discovered that “bath salts” are ten times stronger than cocaine, causes paranoia, violent and agitated outbursts, and hallucinations. However, unlike cocaine or other uppers, the users of “bath salts” can suffer from these symptoms for days.

Four months ago, New York mother Pamela McCarthy was using “bath salts” when she attacked her three-year-old son and dog before stripping off. Her case was just one in a stream of what are being called “zombie attacks.”

The most famous attack of its kind in recent months was the incident where Rudy Eugene, who was believed to be on “bath salts,” chewed off homeless man Ronald Poppo’s face in Miami. In Louisiana, Carl Jacquneaux also bit off a piece of his neighbor’s cheek. Earlier this week, a North Miami man stripped naked and exposed himself to a three-year-old girl while on the drug.

Louisiana Poison Control Center Director Dr. Mark Ryan told ABC News, “They're selling time bombs.

“We've had some people show up who are complaining of chest pains so severe that they think they're having a heart attack. They think they're dying.

“They have extreme paranoia. They're having hallucinations. They see things, they hear things, monsters, demons, aliens.”

Ryan said that those who snorted the powder, which is sold under various names, all suffered repetitive psychotic episodes.

He said, “Some patients were in the hospital for five days, ten days, 14 days.

“In some cases, they were under heavy sedation. As you try to taper off the sedation, the paranoia came back and the delusions.”

Louise De Felice said, “MDPV is irreversible, it won't let go…I don't know of any other drug that has that same feature of not allowing you to escape from it.”

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