in miami naked and chewing another man's face off. >> i never thought i would see somebody else eating someone, you know. it was really horrific. >> reporter: the victim of the attack, a homeless miami man, lost up to 80% of his face. police think it may be connected to bath salts. and it has scientists like mash who have been studying these drugs for a generation genuinely scared. >> this, for me, is almost like a science fiction episode where someone makes a very dangerous molecule and it's released into the public. >> reporter: the powder is mostly snorted, creating a euphoria or rush that comes with dangerous side effects. bath salts, they're not the kind you may be thinking of. these would be useless in a tub. still legal in many states, the drug mimics the effects of cocaine or methamphetamine. but each strain is different, sold under names like cloud ten and euphoria at suburban malls and even convenience stores across the country. >> around the world in the headlines, rudy eugene is a zombie, a monster, a cannibal.