Health Protection

                        F a c t s

METHAMPHETAMINE

What is Methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine is an illegal substance known as meth, speed, crank, crystal, or ice. This potent synthetic drug is a central nervous system stimulant that increases heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and breathing rate. It decreases appetite, induces a sense of invulnerability and, with binge use, causes violent and erratic behaviour.

Meth is more addictive and powerful than cocaine. It is also cheaper than cocaine. It gives the user a “rush” or intense feeling of pleasure that lasts longer than cocaine. Meth can be injected, snorted, ingested, or smoked and it comes in a variety of colours and forms including powder, pills and crystals.

Meth is increasingly popular because it is easy and cheap to make, uses simple ingredients extracted from readily available products, and recipes can be found on the Internet.

Signs of a Clandestine Meth Lab

Meth is produced in as little as 8 hours using equipment that can be quickly dismantled and relocated. Meth labs are commonly found in motels, rural areas and residential areas.  Meth labs have also been discovered in vehicles of all types.

The following are signs that may indicate a clandestine meth lab:

• Unusually sweet or strong odours, such as ether, ammonia or auto parts cleaners, generated from the ingredients used to make the drug.

• Residences with blacked out windows.

• Sporadic traffic throughout the day and night.

• Unusual trash such as large amounts of empty anti-freeze containers, camping fuel cans, battery parts, stained coffee filters, glassware, or drain cleaners.

Health and Safety Issues

Never enter an active or suspect meth lab. Many chronic meth users experience depression, delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, and violent behaviour. There are fire and explosive hazards caused by careless handling and overheating of chemicals, unsafe manufacturing methods, and improperly stored chemicals. Hazardous living conditions and filth are common in meth labs in residences as well as explosives and booby traps.

Although clandestine labs use a number of manufacturing methods, all produce volatile chemicals and toxic vapours that present significant health and safety hazards to all individuals involved in the process as well as those who enter the site. People in the surrounding community may also be at risk. As a result of meth “cooking”, many chemicals contaminate a property. Some household materials such as carpeting, wallboard or fabric may absorb spilled chemicals. Furniture or draperies may also become contaminated. These chemical residues can result in health effects for people who use the property that are similar to those experienced by meth users. Therefore, it is important that properties be adequately cleaned prior to being inhabited. Soil or groundwater, including nearby drinking water wells, may become contaminated if chemicals are dumped into a septic system or on the ground.

As meth labs are an emerging problem there are currently no official regulations on how to properly clean up former meth labs, particularly inside buildings.

Health Effects

Health effects from short-term exposure may include breathing difficulties, skin and eye irritation, headache, nausea, dizziness, and even death. Little is known at this time about the health effects from long-term exposure. 

Health Effects in Children

Children who live at or visit these sites face acute health and safety risks. The age-related behaviours of young children, such as hand-to-mouth contact and physical contact with their environment, increase the likelihood they will inhale, absorb or ingest toxic chemicals, drugs or contaminated food. Their physiological characteristics, such as higher metabolic and respiratory rates and a developing central nervous system, leave them particularly vulnerable to the effects of toxic chemicals. Exposure to drugs and alcohol before birth places infants at increased risk for neurological abnormalities and respiratory problems. 

Emergency Response

Do not enter a known or suspect meth lab. Contact your local law enforcement agency immediately. If you discover a meth lab, do not smoke or use a cell phone inside the building because of fire and explosion hazards. Do not touch your face until you are able to wash skin with soap and water. After exiting, wash all clothing separately as well as footwear and seek medical attention if necessary.

Sources:

• The Kansas Department of Health and Environment

• Wisconsin Department of Health & Family Services

• U.S. Department of Justice, OVC Bulletin, June 2003