![\"Causeway](\"http:\/\/www.suburra.com\/images%20-%20PD%20blog\/CausewayCannibal20120604WEB.jpg\")
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(For more information on bath salts read “Doctor Tried Bath Salts and Liked It: In Defense of Bath Salts,”<\/a> or learn about the “Legal Drug Linked to More Cannibalism than Bath Salts.”<\/a>)<\/p>\n On May 26, 2012, a naked Rudy Eugene ate the face of Ronald Poppo by a Miami causeway. Despite there being no evidence of drug use, yellow journalism used the specious speculation of Miami’s police union president to launch an avalanche of errant drug bashing.<\/p>\n The truth is that drug abuse\/dependence is not a statistically significant predictor of violence, nor is severe mental illness. (Eugene was young, male, and had a history of violence \u2013 the top three predictors.) Drug use and severe mental illness are only significantly problematic when coupled with violent tendencies. (2,5)<\/p>\n Eugene clearly had anger and violence issues. In 2004 he became the first person to be Tased in North Miami Beach when he went on a destructive rampage in his mother\u2019s home. He shoved her, broke a table, smashed items, and told her, \u201cI\u2019ll put a gun to your head and kill you.\u201d When the police arrived he threatened them as well. (3)<\/p>\n Contrary to media presentations, it appears Eugene did not take bath salts, LSD, or cocaine. According to his girlfriend he frequently used marijuana but refused all other drugs. He even avoided medication for minor ailments like headaches.<\/p>\n Two days before the attack Eugene and two friends had a Bible study where they discussed how to become better men according to the word of God. Eugene vowed to give up marijuana. It is more likely that this vow \u2013 not bath salts \u2013 precipitated the attack.<\/p>\n A 1985 Kent State study found that administrating a moderate to heavy amount of marijuana promotes non-aggression. (4) Although understudied, marijuana\u2019s pacifying effects are obvious to users. A 2007 Danish study of over a hundred marijuana smokers in dependence treatment found that more of them used marijuana to relax (86%) than to get “high” (82%), and nearly half of them smoked marijuana to decrease aggression. (1)<\/p>\n It is highly probable that a more relaxed and less aggressive Eugene would have behaved differently on that causeway.<\/p>\n Note: If toxicology reports come back positive for marijuana it does not mean that Eugene was partaking. Heavy marijuana users can test positive for marijuana for up to a month after their last use.<\/p>\n Tip of the Hat<\/strong><\/p>\n I salute the following journalists for writing articles criticizing the fallacious and narcophobic coverage of the Causeway Cannibal:<\/p>\n 1. Kristen Gwynne, “Dumb and Dangerous Anti-Drug Propaganda in the Miami Zombie Story,” AlterNet.org. 31 May 2012. LINK<\/a>
\n2. Jacob Sullum, “If You Use Drugs, You Might End Up Eating Someone’s Face,” Reason.com, 29 May 2012. LINK<\/a>
\n3. Maia Szalavitz, “Why Drugs Are Getting a Bum Rap in the Miami Face-Eating Attack,” Time.com, 30 May 2012. LINK<\/a><\/p>\n