Clandestine Drug Labs/Meth

Lab Produced Drugs Methamphetamine Marijuana Cocaine Others

Methamphetamine Can be a legal prescription (Desoxyn) Most often encountered in illegal/illecit production and use Powerful stimulant Highly addictive Taken by injection, smoking, snorting, rectal

Methamphetamine Classic indications of meth use Meth mouth “bugs” under the skin Extreme hyperactivity Inability to sleep

Meth Production Two methods “Bathtub” method “Shake n Bake” method Generally production for distribution Houses/apartments/self storage units/pickups “Shake n Bake” method Often for self consumption Usually a 2 liter bottle

The Key Ingredient Ephedrine and/or pseudoephadrine Found in cold/allergy meds, Primatine inhalers, etc. Efforts under way to control access to these key ingredients

Other Ingredients Gasoline additives Rubbing alcohol Ether Benzene Paint thinner Freon Acetone Chloroform Camp stove fuel Anhydrous ammonia White gasoline Phenyl-2-propane Phenylacetone Phenylpropanolamine Rock, table or Epsom salt Red phosphorus Toluene Red devil lye Muriatic/hydrochloric acid Battery acid Lithium from batteries Sodium Iodine Iodine crystals Ammonium nitrate

Meth Methods Birch reduction Hydroiodic acid/red phosphorus method Lithium and ammonia Also known as the “nazi” method Can substitute some materials Basis of both bathtub and shake n bake methods of production Hydroiodic acid/red phosphorus method Red phosphorus from matches

Problems with Meth Production Fire/explosions Potentially class D fires Chemical contamination Toxic leftovers Ammonia, phosphine, methylamine, acetone, chloroform, iodine, white/red phosphorus, hydrogen chlorine, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen iodine, lithium, sodium, ether, methamphetamine gas

Meth Names Speed Meth Ice Crystal Chalk Crank Tweak Uppers Black Beauties Glass Bikers Coffee Methlies Quick Poor Man’s Cocaine Chicken Feed Shabu or shabu-shabu Crystal Meth Stove Top Trash Go Fast Yaba Yellow Bam

Meth in Indiana In 1999, law enforcement investigated 177 labs

Meth and LEA Law enforcement generally prefers to handle meth labs on their own We turn it into a “hazmat” Attracts attention Takes time Disrupts their investigation They typically burn whatever they can