Detecting Meth Use & Labs

Detecting Use

Meth use symptoms include:

• Sleeplessness
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Elevated body temperature
• Skin ulceration and infection, the result of picking at imaginary bugs
• Paranoia
• Depression
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Increased blood pressure
• Seizures
• For pregnant women - premature labor detachment of the placenta, and low birth weight babies with possible neurological damage.
• For intravenous (IV) users -AIDS, hepatitis infections and sores at the injection site, and’ infection of the heart lining and valves.

Under the influence of the drug, users often become agitated and feel "wired." Their behavior becomes unpredictable. They may be friendly and calm one moment, angry and terrified the next. Some feel compelled to repeat meaningless tasks, such as taking apart and reassembling bits of machinery. Others may pick at imaginary bugs on their skin.

Physical affects include: increased heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and rate of breathing; it dilates the pupils and may cause tremors.

Meth does a lot of damage to people who use it. (As a matter of fact, death may not be the worst of its potential effects.) And you can find out about that type of thing in symptoms, and detecting a user.

But users aren't the only ones who are affected it effects family, neighbors and those that effected by the crime that arises from meth use.

Meth labs regularly blow up in ordinary neighborhoods, damaging ordinary people who may not even know what meth is.

And then there's meth-related crime. Its victims aren't limited to users of meth either.

The truth is you don't necessarily have to be involved with meth to feel its effects.

Detecting Labs

Report a Suspected Meth Lab:
1-888-609-6384

The reckless practice of the untrained people who manufacture meth in clandestine labs, results in explosions and fires that injure and kill not only the people and families involved, but also law enforcement officers or firefighters who respond.

Exposure to the potent chemicals used in the making of meth can enter the central nervous system by touching or breathing and cause neural damage, effect kidneys, and burn or irritate the skin, eyes and nose.

Signs of a Meth Lab:

• Frequent visitors at all times of the day or night.
• Activity at the house is usually at odd hours or late at night.
• Occupants appear unemployed, yet seem to have plenty of money and pay bills with cash.
• Occupants are unfriendly, appear secretive about activities.
• Occupants watch cars suspiciously when they pass by.
• Occupants display a paranoid or odd behavior.
• Extensive security at the home or signs that indicate "PRIVATE PROPERTY", or "BEWARE OF DOG", fences, large shrubs, bushes and trees.
• Windows blackened or curtains always drawn.
• Occupants go outside the house to smoke cigarettes.
• Chemical odors coming from the house, garbage or detached buildings.
• Garbage contains numerous bottles, containers, and materials as listed below under "typical equipment..."
• Coffee filters, bed sheets or other material stained from filtering red phosphorus or other chemicals.
• Occupant sets his garbage for pick up in another neighborhor's collection area.
• Evidence of chemical or waste dumping (i.e.,burn pits, or "dead spots" in the yard).

Common Chemicals Used to Make Methamphetamine:

Alcohol (Isopropyl or rubbing alcohol), Toluene (brake cleaner), Ether (engine starter), Sulfuric Acid (drain cleaner), Red Phosphorus (matches/road flares), Salt (table/rock), Iodine (teat dip or flakes/crystal), Lithium (batteries), Trichloroethane (gun scrubber), MSM (cutting agent), Sodium Metal, Methanol/Alcohol (gasoline additives), Muriatic Acid, Anhydrous Ammonia (farm fertilizer), Sodium Hydroxide (lye), Pseudoephedrine (cold tablets), Ephedrine (cold tablets), Acetone, Cat Litter

Typical Equipment Used to Make Methamphetamine:

Pyrex or Corning dishes (glass), Jugs/bottles, Paper towels, coffee filters, thermometer, cheesecloth, funnels, blenders, rubber tubing/gloves, pails/buckets, gas cans, tape/clamps, internet documents/notes, "How to Make Methamphetamine" books, Aluminum foil, Propane cylinders (20-lb), Hotplates, plastic storage containers/ice chests, measuring cups, towels/bed sheets, laboratory beakers/glassware