Meth Facts
April 28, 2008
This Thing Called Meth
It should come to no surprise to anyone that methamphetamine use and production is at an all time high, especially in Oklahoma. Methamphetamine is not only a plague to those who are addicted or those who manufacture it, but everyone. Methamphetamine is not a city or state problem, it is a nationwide problem.
Drug treatment facilities are packed with people who are seeking treatment for their addiction to meth. Police officers are responding to meth lab sites on a daily basis, with some labs taking a full work day to dismantle. There are other officers who respond to domestic abuse calls where an addict has become violent with an individual close to them. Homes and cars are being burglarized to support a drug habit or to buy chemicals to produce more methamphetamine. There are many labs where children are present or there is evidence to show children reside at that residence. More and more manufacturers are going to prison. To further the impact on the public, stores are having to increase prices to cover the amount of stolen merchandise which has been taken by an addict to support his or her habit. Meth is not a problem that has a focused impact, the impact is very widespread.
To understand the impact of methamphetamine, there must first be an understanding of the drug itself. There are a variety of names for meth; speed, crystal, or crank. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive central nervous system stimulant that can be snorted, smoked, injected, eaten or dissolved in a drink. The typical dosage is anywhere from .2 grams to .4 grams. Meth sells for approximately $100.00 a gram on the street.
A person addicted to meth will go on “binges” where they will continually consume methamphetamine for days at a time. Constant consumption may cause the person to stay awake for days or even weeks at a time. During this time the person does not care or think about others around them. When the “high” wears off, the person “crashes”, meaning they may sleep or stay “holed up” for days, until the next binge.
The use of methamphetamine has a variety of results. It makes a person paranoid and can also trick the person into feeling like their skin is “crawling”. The crawling sensation forces the person to scratch incessantly causing scabs and even scars. The use of meth can also make a person violent due to the paranoia. Violence combined with he paranoia causes those who are addicted to be a danger to themselves and others.
Many people are beginning to question the source of this highly addictive drug. There are numerous sources for the drug itself. In Oklahoma, there seems to be a small amount of “Mexican” produced methamphetamine. Typically, the source of methamphetamine in Oklahoma is through the production of methamphetamine in small “laboratories” found in hotels/motels, apartments, houses, trailers, etc. With the Internet being so accessible, there are recipes that can be obtained with just a few key strokes.
Methamphetamine is produced through a chemical reaction, called “cooking.” Cooking converts pseudoephedrine into methamphetamine through the use of chemicals found in virtually every household. There are some chemicals or “ingredients” which require some creativity to obtain. Each of the chemicals used in the production of methamphetamine is hazardous due to the flammability or explosive nature of the items used. Byproducts, or trash, from the lab are typically poured onto the ground or into the sewer systems. The production of methamphetamine is coupled with a very distinct odor of solvent chemicals such as paint thinner.
Education is the best way to combat the meth problem. Every person who has some idea of what to look for and smell for is an extra set of eyes and noses to aid law enforcement in the detection of meth labs. Smell is typically what gives a lab away. Smell has been described as a chemical odor similar to that of paint thinner. Because solvents are utilized at various stages of the process, there are several steps that allow such a chemical odor to be apparent. Think of an auto body paint shop, with the smell of paint and paint thinner. That is the type of chemical odor that is produced.
Other things to look for would include large quantities of “short term” traffic which indicates drug sales and large quantities of pseudoephedrine, or other cold medicines containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. Matchbooks are also an indicator. Matchbooks contain a chemical that is necessary in the production of methamphetamine. Another item to look for is gas line antifreeze. Products such as “Heet” are utilized in the process and there will typically be numerous bottles of those products around.
A meth lab in your neighborhood is extremely dangerous and can be explosive. If you believe there is a meth lab in your neighborhood call 911 and report what you see or smell. For more information about meth call (405) 713-1787.
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