Meth Labs:What You Need to Know

Holly E. HopperUK HEEL Program

What is methamphetamine?Man-made stimulantMade in clandestine labs and sold illegallyPills, chunks or powderCentral nervous system stimulantExtremely addictiveSpeed, crank, ice, glass, and crystalIngested, inhaled, or smoked

Forms of Methamphetamine

Meth: Anhydrous MethodCold pills + Anhydrous ammonia + Metal =

Methamphetamine

Anhydrous exposure

Meth: Red Phosphorus MethodCold Pills + Red Phosphorus + Iodine=

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine leaves printsOn your land In our drinking water if it is buried or dumped in/near streams or wells;In soil In the bodies of users and in those with whom they live;In vacated homes, rental properties, hotel rooms;In the trunks of cars;In storage units;In the bodies of those who inhabit property used for the production of methamphetamine.

Methamphetamine & Methamphetamine & Kentucky LandKentucky Land

Methamphetamine cooks often use farmland or rental property.Waste is left behind along with toxic residue.Water and soil are at risk of contamination.

HowHow does this happen?does this happen?Such activity often happens at night.Some cooks will offer amounts of cash to encourage landowners to ignore this activity.Absent landowners may not even notice.The payoff is great enough for many cooks to take the risk of getting caught.

Lack of Knowledge Puts the Public at RiskLack of Knowledge Puts the Public at Risk

Not understanding basic meth-related risks contribute to public danger. Burying waste increases risk of respiratory damage, burns or death from gasses or explosion.Burying waste certainly contaminates land.Dumping waste in sinkholes contaminates the water table and is a federal violation.

Good Guys Helping Bad GuysGood Guys Helping Bad GuysAn offer of cash for the use of abandoned buildings may sound good at first. Selling a gallon of anhydrous ammonia for a few hundred dollars may seem harmless.

Anything that sounds that good Anything that sounds that good ––has a price.has a price.

Good Stewardship of LandGood Stewardship of Land

Lack of immediate negative consequence does not mean no negative consequence. Crops can be contaminated. Livestock can be contaminated.Future generations deserve to have land that is safe to use for farming and recreation.

Words to Protect the Words to Protect the Agricultural Community:Agricultural Community:

Do not accept cash for use of property.Do not sell anhydrous ammonia.Know what happens on your property.Do not bury, move, or examine any trash found on property.Use anonymous reporting systems within your community. Do not try to figure out “who-dun-it”.

Cleanup Versus Remediation

How are meth labs remediated?VentilationCleaning or discarding porous materialsReplace filters, walls, vents, etc.Flush plumbing systemsDetergent washingUse of methanol or alcohol

Who’s at risk for exposure?Meth usersCookersChildrenFirst RespondersHazmat TechniciansLandlords and Property Owners

Decontamination of “cook”

Methamphetamine and Related Drug Charges in Kentucky 2001- 2003

Source: Administrative Office of the Courts: 2/18/2003 Prepared by: Owen Johnson

Frequency by QuintileNumber of Charges per County

0 - 4

5 - 15

16 - 44

45 - 92

93 - 1653

Source: El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) National Clandestine Laboratory Seizure System

Children Affected by Methamphetamine Productionin Kentucky 2000 - 2003

0

1 - 6

7 - 13

14 - 20

21 - 44

Rates per 100,000

Prepared by: Owen Johnson

How do we know there is danger?

In meth-exposed children suffer respiratory, heart problems, developmental delays and other “strange” medical effects.A tractor blade was blown off when meth waste a farmer found exploded while he tried to bury it on his farm. Reports of community members and health care providers who are blown away by this problem.Results of National Jewish Hospital research report on clandestine methamphetamine production study.

Why is meth so powerful?High tolerance potential.Tweaking, the state after binge, is very unpleasant.The crash occurs when drug use stops.Intensity of crash is equal to amount of drug used.

Requires more drug to get the same effect.Users attempt to continue to use drugs to maintain the high and avoid tweaking and the inevitable “crash”.Users sleep for days then awake to a rush of intense craving, depression, paranoia, and irritability.

Signs of Home ManufactureSmell of chemicals; may be like rotten eggs, ether, or a “sweet” chemical odorUnusual trash including many of the same item (normally not used in mass)Dirty conditionsPornography Weapons

Meth: In the BathroomTop photo: Chemicals used in the manufacture of meth may look like a drink.Bottom photo: Some cooks will “smoke off”directly down a drain.

Plumbing Problems?

Are items used as intended?

Hiding PlacesBedroomsRental PropertyCar trunksStorage unitsGaragesKitchen cabinetsClosetsBoatsBarns

Does this look like your kitchen?

Learn to do “meth math”

Signs and Symptoms of Exposure

Burning, tingling skinDifficulty breathingHeadachesBurning eyesDizzinessBurns on skinAgitation or extreme lethargy

What if you suspect you are in a lab environment?

SAFETY FIRSTMake mental notesMake an excuse to leaveDo not let your suspicions be known.

When you are a safe distance away call and report suspicions to the proper authorities.

Do not try to rescue others in the home—let authorities know who in the home needs assistance.

Summary:Volatility: of drug; of cook; of userProtection of drugMetabolic brain change=inability to associate cause and effectSafety is a priorityEducation is key to safetyToxic environments, not toxic people

Are meth cooks more organized than we are?

Photo Credits:Pennyrile Narcotics Task ForceDEANational Alliance for Drug Endangered ChildrenKentucky State Policewww.justthinktwice.com

More Information?Please contact:

Holly HopperUK HEEL Programhehopp2@uky.edu

www.ca.uky.edu/heel/landwww.ca.uky.edu/heel/dec.htm