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Methamphetamine Investigations
To report suspected methamphetamine laboratory activity, please call the DPS
Secret Witness Line at 1-800-392-8011.
About Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine, a derivative of amphetamine, is a powerful stimulant that affects
the central nervous system. Methamphetamine use increases energy and alertness and
decreases appetite. Methamphetamine can be smoked, snorted, orally ingested, and
injected. Snorting affects the user in approximately 5 minutes, whereas oral ingestion
takes about 20 minutes for the user to feel the effects. The effects of methamphetamine
can last up to 12 hours.
Methamphetamine, also called meth, is typically a white powder that easily dissolves
in water, but is also found in the form of clear chunky crystals, is called crystal
meth, or ice. A third form of the drug is small, brightly colored tablets, often
called by their Thai name, yaba. (Link to “Common Street Terms for Meth here?)
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in 2001 there were 12,715
methamphetamine laboratory incidents reported in 46 States. The West Coast accounted
for most of the laboratory incidents. On the East Coast, the following States reported
the highest incident rates: Georgia (51), North Carolina (31), and Florida (29).
Nationally, the highest rate of lab activity took place in Missouri, which reported
2,207 incidents. California and Washington also had high incident rates with 1,847
and 1,477, respectively. According to the El Paso Intelligence Center's National
Clandestine Laboratory Seizure System, in 2001, there were 303 "superlabs" with
the capacity to produce 10 or more pounds of methamphetamine in one production cycle
seized in the United States.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), during 2001, the price of
methamphetamine ranged nationally from $3,500 to $23,000 per pound, $350 to $2,200
per ounce, and $20 to $300 per gram.
Methamphetamine can be easily manufactured in clandestine laboratories (meth labs)
using ingredients available for purchase at local retail stores. Relatively inexpensive
over-the-counter (OTC) cold medicines containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine and
other materials are "cooked" in meth labs to make methamphetamine.
The manufacture of methamphetamine has a severe impact on the environment. The production
of one pound of methamphetamine releases poisonous gas into the atmosphere and creates
5 to 7 pounds of toxic waste. Laboratory operators often dump the toxic waste down
household drains, in fields and yards, or on rural roads.
Methamphetamine labs can be portable and so are easily dismantled, stored, or moved.
This portability helps methamphetamine manufacturers avoid law enforcement authorities.
Meth labs have been found in many different types of locations, including apartments,
hotel rooms, rented storage spaces, and trucks.
These methamphetamine labs have been known to be “booby-trapped”, and the lab operators
are often well armed. The labs are also dangerous because of their capacity to injure
officers through explosion and fumes. Due to the creation of toxic waste at methamphetamine
production sites, many first response personnel incur injury when dealing with the
hazardous substances. The most common symptoms suffered by first responders when
they raid methamphetamine labs are respiratory and eye irritations, headaches, dizziness,
nausea, and shortness of breath.
Consequences of methamphetamine and amphetamine use include but are not limited
to the following:
- Effects of usage include addiction, psychotic behavior, and brain damage.1
- Withdrawal symptoms include depression, anxiety, fatigue, paranoia, aggression,
and intense cravings.2
- Chronic use can cause violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, auditory hallucinations,
mood disturbances, delusions, and paranoia.3
- Damage to the brain cause by meth usage is similar to Alzheimer's disease, stroke,
and epilepsy.4
1 Office of National Drug Control Policy, Drug Facts: Methamphetamine,
May, 2002.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
4 National Institute on Drug Abuse, Methamphetamine: Abuse and Addiction,
April, 1998. What are the Effects of Methamphetamine Abuse?
For More Information
For additional information on methamphetamine or to request a presentation in your
area by the Alabama Department of Public Safety Public Information Office on the
dangers of methamphetamine, please call (334) 242-4445 or email
info@dps.alabama.gov
To report suspected methamphetamine laboratory activity, please call the DPS
Secret Witness Line at 1-800-392-8011.
Additional information may be also be obtained by visiting the following weblinks:
Drug Enforcement
Administration
Office
of National Drug Control Policy: Drug Facts
Disclaimer: This project was supported by Grant # 2001-CKWX-0168 and 2003-CKWX-0265 from the Office
of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), U.S. Department of Justice(US DOJ).