Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant drug which induces a strong feeling of euphoria and is highly addictive. Pure methamphetamine is a colorless crystalline solid, or a paste sold on the streets as crystal meth, glass, ice, or crystal. It is also sold as less pure crystalline powder called crank or speed, or in rock formation termed tweak, dope, or raw. It has become one of the world's most significant illicit drugs.

Production

Methamphetamine is structurally similar to methcathinone, amphetamine, and other stimulants, and it may be produced from ephedrine or pseudoephedrine by chemical reduction. Most of the necessary chemicals are readily available in household products or over-the-counter medicines. This makes methamphetamine appear unusually easy to make, unlike cannabis and cocaine, which are both harvested directly from plants.

Related Topics:
Methcathinone - Amphetamine - Stimulant - Ephedrine - Pseudoephedrine - Over-the-counter - Cannabis - Cocaine

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Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and ephedrine hydrochloride are commonly available decongestant drugs without strong euphoric effects. There are many different syntheses for conversion which can be found on the internet, although these sources are sometimes not trustworthy, and most experienced 'cooks' learned from either chemistry classes or other 'cooks' in person. The synthesis involves moderately dangerous chemicals and processes that could be considered extremely dangerous.

Related Topics:
Decongestant - Chemistry

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Nevertheless, most production methods involve hydrogenation of the hydroxyl group on the ephedrine/pseudoephedrine molecule. The most common method in the United States involves red phosphorus and hydroiodic acid. An increasingly common method involves metallic lithium and (very dangerous) liquid ammonia. Other less common methods use other means of hydrogenation, such as hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst.

Related Topics:
Hydrogenation - Hydroxyl - Phosphorus - Hydroiodic acid - Lithium - Ammonia

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A completely different synthesis procedure involves creating methamphetamine using phenylacetone and methylamine, both of which are currently DEA list I chemicals. This was once the preferred method of production by outlaw biker gangs in California, but DEA restrictions on the chemicals have made this a rare way to produce the drug today.

Related Topics:
Phenylacetone - Methylamine - DEA - List I

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These chemicals are commonly used by people without laboratory training in and around the household for a variety of household uses; however, the production of methamphetamine is not to be confused with these much safer household uses. In fact, when law enforcement finds a methamphetamine lab, they must have specially trained and certified professionals, wearing full hazardous materials protection suits, dismantle and dispose of the lab equipment and materials. It is estimated for every 1 pound of methamphetamine produced, 5 pounds of hazardous waste are also produced.

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This can result in highly dangerous situations, as the by-products of production are highly toxic in most syntheses, and are sometimes dumped in unsafe places. An example is phosphine gas, which can be produced when the reaction is allowed to overheat, and which has killed operators of illegal "clan" (clandestine chemistry) or "meth" labs.

Related Topics:
By-product - Toxic - Phosphine - Clandestine chemistry

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Until the early 1990s, methamphetamine was made mostly in clandestine labs run by drug traffickers in Mexico and California; areas which are still the largest U.S. producers. Since then, however, authorities have discovered increasing numbers of small-scale methamphetamine labs all over the United States, commonly located in rural, suburban, or low-income areas spread throughout the US. The meth problem is most prevalent in suburban and rural areas of the Southwest and Midwest.

Related Topics:
1990s - Mexico - California

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Recently mobile methamphetamine and hotel-based labs have caught the attention of both the news media and law enforcement. These have been seen as a public safety issue because of the increased exposure of the general public to hazardous chemicals, explosions and fires. In addition to these serious issues there is also the likelihood of a 'cook' being well armed. The police have responded in two ways, first by the creation of a number of specialized task forces and secondly by the education of those individuals likely to come in contact with persons involved in the production of methamphetamine. The Indiana state police found just 6 labs in 1995 compared to 1,260 in 2003.

Related Topics:
Indiana - State police - 1995 - 2003

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On April 6, 2004, Oklahoma issued a state law prohibiting the non-prescription sale of certain over-the-counter medications known to contain ingredients used in meth production. Iowa enacted a law concerning the sale of precursors such as pseudoephedrine. This law requires that non-prescription drugs with pseudoephedrine be placed behind the pharmacist's counter. A person can only buy 330mg of pseudoephedrine per day. They must also show identification when purchasing the drug, and sign a logbook when purchasing pseudoephedrine. Oregon passed a similar law which adds that names of the purchasers are to be placed on a list for up to two years. In August, 2005, Oregon strengthened its anti-methamphetamine laws even further by passing legislation requiring a prescription to obtain drugs containing pseudoephedrine.

Related Topics:
Oklahoma - Iowa - Oregon

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