The Methamphetamine Problem: Question and Answer Guide

Methamphetamine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant. The drug is made easily in clandestine laboratories with relatively inexpensive, over-the-counter ingredients. These factors combine to make methamphetamine a drug with high potential for widespread abuse. It is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol.

Methamphetamine is derived from amphetamine, which was used originally in nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers.  It causes increased activity, decreased appetite, and a false sense of general well-being. The effects of methamphetamine can last six to eight hours, which includes the initial "rush" and, afterwards, a state of high agitation that in some individuals can lead to violent behavior.

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What are the street names for methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine is referred to as meth, speed, crank, chalk, go-fast, zip, and cristy. Pure methamphetamine hydrochloride, the smokable form of the drug, is called "L.A." or — because of its clear, chunky crystals that resemble frozen water — ice, crystal, crank, 64 glass, or quartz. Use of methamphetamine became widespread in Hawaii by 1988. Distribution of ice spread to the U.S. mainland by 1990.

How much does methamphetamine cost on the street?

Compared to other drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, methamphetamine is relatively inexpensive.  Prices vary from region to region, with the cost on the East Coast being substantially more than on the West Coast.

How is methamphetamine used?

Methamphetamine comes in many forms and can be smoked, snorted, orally ingested, or injected. Moods are altered in different ways, depending on how the drug is taken.

Methamphetamine can cause sleeplessness, increase wakefulness and physical activity, and decrease appetite.  Immediately after smoking or injecting methamphetamine intravenously, users experience an intense rush that lasts only a few minutes and is described as extremely pleasurable. Snorting a high within 3 to 5 minutes, while oral ingestion a high within 15 to 20 minutes.

Oral ingestion or snorting produce a long-lasting high, instead of a rush, that can continue for as long as half a day. The rush and high are caused by the release of very high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine into areas of the brain that regulate feelings of pleasure.

Long-term methamphetamine abuse has many damaging effects, including addiction. Addiction is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and drug use that is accompanied by functional and molecular changes in the brain. In addition to being addicted to methamphetamine, chronic abusers exhibit symptoms that include violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, and insomnia. They also display a number of psychotic features, including paranoia, auditory hallucinations, mood disturbances, and delusions (for example, the sensation of insects creeping on the skin, called "formication"). The paranoia can result in homicidal as well as suicidal thoughts.

If used excessively, tolerance for methamphetamine can develop. In an effort to intensify the desired effects, users may take higher doses of the drug, take it more frequently, or change their method of drug intake. In some cases, abusers forego food and sleep while indulging in a form of bingeing known as a "run," injecting as much as a gram of the drug every two to three hours over several days.  Chronic abuse can lead to psychotic behavior, characterized by intense paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and extremely violent behavior.

There are several symptoms that occur when a chronic user stops taking the drug. They include depression, anxiety, fatigue, paranoia, aggression, and an intense craving for the drug.

Scientific studies raise concern over the toxic effects of methamphetamine on the brain. Researchers have reported that as much as 50 percent of the dopamine-producing cells in the brain can be damaged after prolonged use.  They also have found that serotonin-containing nerve cells may be damaged even more extensively. Whether this toxicity is related to the psychosis seen in some long-term methamphetamine abusers is still an open question.

A user may exhibit anxiousness; nervousness; incessant talking; extreme moodiness and irritability; purposeless, repetitious behavior, such as picking at skin or pulling out hair; dilated pupils with redness on the iris; sleep disturbances; a false sense of confidence and power; aggressive or violent behavior; disinterest in previously enjoyed activities; and severe depression.

Methamphetamine is classified as a psychostimulant, as are amphetamine and cocaine.  Methamphetamine, like cocaine, results in an accumulation of the neurotransmitter dopamine.  This excessive dopamine concentration the stimulation and feelings of euphoria experienced by the user. Methamphetamine has a much longer duration of action, and a larger percentage of the drug remains unchanged in the body than does cocaine. This results in methamphetamine being present in the brain longer, which ultimately leads to prolonged stimulant effects.

Athletes and students begin using methamphetamine because of the initial heightened physical and mental performance the drug. Blue-collar and service workers may use the drug to work extra shifts, while young women often begin using methamphetamine to lose weight. Others use methamphetamine recreationally to stay energized at "rave" parties or other social activities.

The most effective treatments for methamphetamine addiction are cognitive behavioral interventions. These approaches are designed to help modify the patient's thinking, expectancies, and behaviors and to increase skills in coping with various life stressors. Methamphetamine recovery support groups also appear to be effective adjuncts to behavioral interventions that can lead to long-term, drug-free recovery.  There are currently no particular pharmacological treatments for methamphetamine.  Antidepressant medications are helpful in combating the depressive symptoms frequently seen in methamphetamine users who recently have become abstinent.

Emergency room treatment focuses on overdoses by treating immediate symptoms of hyperthermia (elevated body temperature) and convulsions.

Acute methamphetamine intoxication can often be handled by observation in a safe, quiet environment. In cases of extreme excitement or panic, treatment with antianxiety agents such as benzodiazepines has been helpful, and in cases of methamphetamine-induced psychoses, short-term use of neuroleptics has proven successful.

All addictive drugs have two things in common:  they produce an initial pleasurable effect, followed by a rebound unpleasant effect. Methamphetamine, through its stimulant effects, produces an initial positive feeling but later leaves the user feeling depressed. This is because it suppresses the normal production of dopamine, creating a chemical imbalance. The user physically demands more of the drug to return to normal.   This pleasure/tension cycle leads to loss of control over the drug and addiction.

Yes. The severity and length of symptoms vary with the amount of damage done to the body's system through methamphetamine use. The most common symptoms are drug craving, extreme irritability, loss of energy, depression, fearfulness, excessive drowsiness or difficulty in sleeping, shaking, nausea, palpitations, sweating, hyperventilation, and increased appetite.

Yes. Because of the psychiatric, social, and biological components to methamphetamine dependence, there is a high likelihood of relapse. Key relapse issues are similar to that of cocaine use.

Many users report feeling bleak and dirty when coming off of a binge. They cannot stand their bodies or the way they feel. As a result, the risk of suicide by persons using methamphetamine is higher than the risk for those using heroin or cocaine.

Methamphetamine can cause a variety of cardiovascular problems. These include rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, and irreversible stroke-producing damage to small blood vessels in the brain. Hyperthermia and convulsions occur with methamphetamine overdoses and, if not treated immediately, can result in death.

Chronic methamphetamine abuse can result in inflammation of the heart lining and, among users who inject the drug, damaged blood vessels and skin abscesses. Methamphetamine abusers also can have episodes of violent behavior, paranoia, anxiety, confusion, and insomnia. Heavy users also show progressive social and occupational deterioration. Psychotic symptoms can sometimes persist for months or years after use has ceased.

Acute lead poisoning is another potential risk for methamphetamine abusers because a common method of illegal methamphetamine production uses lead acetate as a reagent. There is a danger that production errors may, therefore, result in methamphetamine contaminated with lead.

Fetal exposure to methamphetamine also is a significant problem in the United States. At present, research indicates that methamphetamine abuse during pregnancy may result in prenatal complications, increased rates of premature delivery, and altered neonatal behavioral patterns, such as abnormal reflexes and extreme irritability. Methamphetamine abuse during pregnancy may also be linked to congenital deformities.

Methamphetamine is a Schedule II stimulant, which means it has a high potential for abuse and is available only through a prescription that cannot be refilled. There are a few accepted medical reasons for its use, such as the treatment of narcolepsy, attention deficit disorder and, for short-term use, obesity; however, these medical uses are limited. The key is the dosage. Methamphetamine abusers use much higher dosages of the drug than a physician would routinely prescribe when treating a patient.

Methamphetamine has been primarily located in small towns, but its use is increasing in cities. Coupled with the social problems that already exist in large cities with the production and use of methamphetamine, the big cities are in for a rough time.

Production of methamphetamine usually can result in strong odors that can smell similar to cat urine or fingernail polish. Large amounts of precursor chemicals—such as antifreeze, lantern fuel, denatured alcohol, drain cleaner, and cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine—and glassware and coffee filters being purchased or stolen are signs that there may be methamphetamine labs in the area.

Law enforcement agencies should address the special training needs for proactively dealing with methamphetamine labs.  The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the local Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) centers are excellent contact points for finding current training and equipment needed to combat the methamphetamine problem. Training should include knowing the proper entities to call for lab cleanup.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has specific training requirements that must be met prior to an officer entering a methamphetamine lab. Failure to follow these requirements may cause an officer to be exposed to health and safety risks, which could lead to liability issues.

Jurisdictions that are considering starting a task force should consider having a committee assess the needs and the mission of the task force and outline the jurisdictional requirements (financial and personnel) for the task force. Jurisdictions will then need to have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among all agencies participating in the task force. The MOU will serve as an outline for policies and responsibilities and as the command structure within the task force.

As the use of technology increases, the transfer of information by methamphetamine users becomes easier and tracking it becomes harder. The use of cellular phones and the Internet by criminals has forced law enforcement officers to increase the resources used to further their investigations. The Internet has numerous Web sites listing methamphetamine recipes. Some Web sites contain incorrect formulas that could lead to explosions or toxic chemicals during the cook. By monitoring Web sites, law enforcement can stay abreast of current trends in the drug community.

Supervisors should have officers trained with basic foreign language skills to communicate with such groups in the area and give the officers an awareness of any cultural differences that may exist. Officers trained with these skills are able to educate motel cleaning staff and field workers to recognize methamphetamine labs and know their dangers. Proficiency in foreign languages assists agencies with investigations.

Any agency forming a methamphetamine team should be aware of the high costs associated with the cleanup of a lab. Prior to a team's first response to a lab, agreements should be in place that assign which funds will be used to cover the costs and which agency is responsible for those costs. This planning will assist supervisors in assessing financial needs for the team.Proper equipment and training can also be costly. However, equipment and training costs required by OSHA cannot be avoided.

Yes, other agencies do come in contact, unwittingly, with methamphetamine labs. For example, child protection agencies that visit homes where methamphetamine is being produced and fire departments that respond to fires caused by methamphetamine-producing chemicals both come in contact with these labs. Sanitation workers may also come into contact with chemicals or waste from a methamphetamine lab. It is recommended that law enforcement agencies work together in a team effort with these agencies to ensure that personnel are made aware of the dangers inherent with methamphetamine labs.

Officer safety is a primary goal in any operation. Officers should secure the area, request backup, and notify the appropriate agencies in the area (fire department, HAZMAT teams, lab response teams, etc.). If the officers are not equipped to investigate a methamphetamine lab, they should transport the suspects to a place of safety and notify appropriate personnel/agencies.

Officers should, however, make notes of what they have seen (i.e., glassware, denatured alcohol, lye, etc.) and determine what condition the lab is in (not always possible due to safety considerations). Providing this type of information to the proper investigative personnel or departments will let them know what to expect when they inspect the lab. Safety is of paramount importance for all concerned.

No. Officers should not ventilate suspected methamphetamine labs unless told to do so by certified lab personnel.

Raid team equipment should consist of flashproof, fireproof outer clothing; air purification respirators and self-contained breathing equipment; gloves; and boots or booties. All equipment should be hosed off after exiting the contaminated environment and stowed in a garbage bag.

Methamphetamine lab cleanup equipment
(Click the photo to enlarge)

The most effective tools are video and/or still cameras. Taking videos and/or still photographs of the methamphetamine lab supports a court case — it is a visual for the jury. Having an expert explain to the jury exactly what they are seeing in the videos and photographs enhances the case. Showing photos or videos of automobiles and license plates at the methamphetamine lab site or picking up chemicals helps "nail" the suspect as a conspirator.

Photographing the evidence is excellent documentation since many items in a methamphetamine lab are contaminated and cannot be stored in an evidence room. They must be disposed of because of contamination.

Only people with proper certification and equipment should transport materials found in a methamphetamine lab. Chemicals, containers, and materials transported in police cruisers and stored in evidence lockers will contaminate all areas with which they come in contact. Often, chemicals are unstable and may be explosive or poisonous.

Children found in these conditions are commonly malnourished, improperly clothed, and neglected. Many of these children test positive for having methamphetamine in their bodies. This is due to the access they have to the drug or exposure to secondhand smoke, resulting from a cook or a user smoking in close proximity to a child.

All too often, law enforcement officers have failed to adequately recognize that children are victims from contaminated clandestine methamphetamine laboratories. When law enforcement officers incarcerate the parents of minor children for the manufacturing of methamphetamine, the children are dealt with in the most expedient manner. Generally, the children are left with the relative or neighbor who can respond most quickly to relieve officers of their babysitting duties. However, this expedient manner fails to address the needs of the children.

For example, a husband and father of five children manufactured and stored chemicals associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine in and under his home for years. As a result, the five children all suffered severe liver damage. Even now, the number of children exposed to toxic chemicals continues to increase to the point that death is a common occurrence. Children are being reported with learning disabilities and long-term health problems, and many are dying as a result of fires and explosions from the labs.

Officers should contact their local Children Services Division and explain the conditions in which the children were found and the dangers of the living environment. Children should have a complete physical performed by a doctor to determine the level of exposure.

The processing required to make methamphetamine from precursor substances is easier and more accessible than ever. There are literally thousands of recipes and information about making methamphetamine on the Internet. An investment of a few hundred dollars in over-the-counter medications and chemicals can produce thousands of dollars' worth of methamphetamine.

Over-the-counter cold and asthma medications containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, red phosphoros, hydrochloric acid, anhydrous ammonia, drain cleaner, battery acid, lye, lantern fuel, and antifreeze are among the ingredients most commonly used in one recipe. The drug can be made in a makeshift "lab" that can fit into a suitcase.

Another recipe calls for large amounts of industrial and agricultural chemicals, which are either purchased or stolen. These chemicals are then used in large labs known as "super" labs. The average methamphetamine "cook" annually teaches ten other people how to make the drug.

A precursor is a chemical that when combined with another chemical, results in a new product. The process of making methamphetamine starts with the precursor (ephedrine or pseudoephedrine), and other chemicals are added to produce the drug.

Methamphetamine is both domestically produced and imported into the United States in already processed form. Once dominated by motorcycle gangs and other local producers in remote areas of California and the Pacific Northwest, the market now includes both local producers and Mexican sources providing the finished product to stateside distributors.

The Mexican drug cartels have become very powerful organizations mainly because of their production and distribution of methamphetamine. The cartels have an edge on the methamphetamine market, unlike the cocaine market, which is shared with the Colombians.

The "Nazi" method uses a very simple recipe to produce methamphetamine; the materials used in this type of production are inexpensive and can be pusrchased at discount stores. The "Nazi" method is more likely to be used on the East Coast versus the West Coast.

A clandestine lab is an illicit operation consisting of a sufficient combination of apparatus and chemicals that either have been or could be used in the manufacture of controlled substances.

Where are methamphetamine labs found?

Clandestine labs are found in rural, city, and suburban residences; barns, garages, and other outbuildings; back rooms of businesses; apartments; hotel and motel rooms; storage facilities; vacant buildings; and vehicles. Small portable labs are commonly referred to as "mom and pop" or "Beavis and Butthead" labs. Larger labs that are permanently set up and can produce up to 100 pounds of methamphetamine per cook are referred to as "super" labs.

Each pound of methamphetamine produced leaves behind 5 or 6 pounds of toxic waste. Methamphetamine cooks often pour leftover chemicals and by-product sludge down drains in nearby plumbing, down storm drains, or directly onto the ground.

Environmental concerns reference the dumping of toxic waste from methamphetamine labs

Chlorinated solvents and other toxic by-products used to make methamphetamine pose long-term hazards because they can persist in soil and groundwater for years. Cleanup costs are exorbitant because solvent-contaminated soil usually must be incinerated.

Cleanups of labs are extremely resource-intensive and beyond the financial capabilities of most jurisdictions. The average cost of a cleanup is about $5,000, but some cost up to $100,000 or more.