Methamphetamine On The Rise

With the exception of Marijuana, chemical precursors are required to manufacture illicit drugs. In the past, regulatory controls on industrial chemical precursors in the United States were effective in curbing diversion of the chemicals to clandestine laboratories. The advent of simple methamphetamine production methods has allowed clandestine drug manufacturers to circumvent diversion controls., and has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of clandestine laboratories in the United States. In addition, the internet has allowed clandestine methamphetamine manufacturers to exchange information on their production methods.

Methamphetamine can be smoked, inhaled, injected or ingested; resulting in increased heart-rate, blood pressure, body temperature and increased breathing rate. Side effects include increased violent behavior, nervousness, irritability, paranoia, depression and severe suicidal thoughts upon withdrawal. In the past, methamphetamine production involved the use of several highly flammable and toxic chemicals including; cyanide compounds, mercury and lead.

Many of these substances were subsequently placed on a list of watched chemicals by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, As result, methamphetamine manufacturers developed alternative methods that utilize several household cleaning chemicals. Yields are low, but these methods are popular because the precursor chemicals are easily accessible in communities within the United States.

Currently, one of the most popular methods of clandestine methamphetamine production is the ephedrine reduction method. Ephedrine is separated from other ingredients in nutritional supplements, cold medicines and nutritional pills, by boiling the pills in hydroiodic acid and red phosphorus. Iodine is obtained from pet stores, and the red phosphorus is obtained from match book striking pads. After boiling the, the iodine and red phosphorus are filtered out and the ephedrine is converted to methamphetamine using sodium hydroxide (Drain opener lye), hydrochloric acid or hydrogen sulfide and hydrocarbon solvent (Toluene or camping stove fuel). Byproducts are poured down the drains of apartments and homes where the laboratories are located, resulting in serious chemical and thermal burn hazards for law enforcement officers, maintenance and cleanup personnel and future residents.

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