Methamphetamine Recognition and Response

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Methamphetamine Recognition and Response

• 2005
• In Service Training

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Training Objectives

• Recognize common over-the-counter products that
  are used in methamphetamine production.
  
• Identify standard and improvised lab equipment
  used in methamphetamine production.
  
• List the correct procedures for dealing with
  reported or discovered methamphetamine labs.

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Street Names for Methamphetamine

• meth
• speed
• crank
• crystal
• zip
• go-fast

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The History of Methamphetamine

• 1887 - Amphetamine first synthesized in Germany.
• 1932 - First medical use "benzedrine inhaler.
• 1937 - Amphetamine available in tablet form.
• 1939 1942 - Used by Allied and Axis troops in
  WWII.
  
• 1971 - Controlled Substances Act of 1970 included
  restrictions on amphetamine.
  
• 1980 - P-2-P becomes a controlled substance
  contributing to switch to ephedrine reduction
  methods.
  
• 1960-1980s - Methamphetamine distribution is
  controlled by biker gangs (P-2-P method used).
  
• 1980-1990 - Red phosphorous (Red P) method starts
  taking over.
  
• 1990-1991 - Ephedrine reduction method imported
  to Kansas City area by local dealers. Birch
  Reduction (Nazi) method discovered in local
  library - method spreads rapidly.
• 1990-1993 - Mexican National Labs proliferate on
  the West Coast (Red P labs).
  
• 1991-Today Red P and Birch Reduction (Nazi) Labs
  spread across the U.S.

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Short-Term Effects of Methamphetamine Use

• Euphoria
• Increased alertness
• Increased energy
• Insomnia
• Light and sound sensitivity
• Shakes and tremors
• Nervousness
• Teeth grinding
• Dry mouth
• Jaw clenching
• Enhanced sexual activity

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Long-Term Effects of Methamphetamine Use

• Depression
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Violent mood changes
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations
• Calcium depletion
• Weight loss
• Meth psychosis

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4 Years
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What Are Crank Bugs?
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Methamphetamine Cycle of Abuse

• Rush Exhilaration after intake usually lasts
  4-5 minutes, but can last as long as 30 minutes.
  
  
• High Can last 4-16 hours.
• Binge Repeated use of meth may continue
  without sleep for 3-15 days.
  
• Tweaking The "coming down" phase that can last
  up to 24 hours.
  
• Crash Continuous sleep for 1-3 days

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Beware of Tweakers

• Keep a social distance.
• Do not shine bright lights at him/her.
• Slow your speech and lower the pitch of your
  voice.
  
• Slow your movements.
• Keep your hands visible.
• Keep the tweaker talking.

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Clandestine Labs

• There are four main categories of clandestine
  labs
  
• Extraction
• Tableting
• Conversion
• Synthesis

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Illegal Controlled Substances Produced in
Clandestine Labs

• PCP
• LSD
• MDMA (ecstasy)
• GHB
• Cocaine/Crack
• Methcathanone
• Methamphetamine

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Types of Methamphetamine Labs

• Mexican National labs
• Mexican National Super Labs
• Mom and Pop labs

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Where Are Clandestine Labs Found ?

• Motels and hotels
• Vacation rentals
• Houses
• Apartments
• Trailers
• Cars
• Trucks
• Recreational vehicles

• Campgrounds
• Parks
• Forests
• Farm fields
• Orchards
• Boats
• Self-storage units
• Outbuildings
• Businesses

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Lab Terminology

• a) Precursor - Primary chemical that is changed
  into the finished product, i.e., ephedrine or
  pseudoephedrine to methamphetamine.
  
• b) Reagent - Chemical used in reactions to
  convert precursor into the finished product, but
  does not become part of the finished product.
  
• c) Solvent - Used to dissolve solid precursors or
  to separate chemicals in a reaction. Most
  solvents are highly flammable.
  
• d) Catalyst - Substance that initiates a chemical
  reaction, i.e., lithium metal.
  
• e) Exothermic - A chemical reaction producing its
  own heat.
  
• f) pH Scale - Measure of acidity or alkalinity.
  The pH range is 1 to 14 with 7 as neutral. increases acidity, 7 increases alkalinity

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Specialized Chemical Apparatus/Items

• Triple neck flasks
• Single neck flasks
• Reflux columns
• Distillation columns
• Heating mantles
• Separatory funnels
• Buchner funnels
• Rheostats
• Vacuum pumps
• pH paper
• Gram scales
• Plastic tubing

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Triple Neck Flask
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Reflux Tube
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Distillation Tube
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Heating Mantel
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Separatory Funnel
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Buchner Funnel
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Rheostats
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Improvised Lab Equipment

• a) Canning jars
• b) Water jugs
• c) Crock pots
• d) Blenders
• e) Spice mills
• f) Kitchen utensils
• g) Coffee grinders
• h) Coffee filters
• i) Bed sheets
• j) Turkey basters

• k) Mop buckets
• l) Hot plates
• m) Cast iron skillets
• n) Pressure cookers
• o) Electric frying pans
• p) Pyrex/Corning cookware
• q) Thermoses or coolers
• r) Propane tanks
• s) Fire extinguishers
• t) Plastic gas cans

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Improvised Equipment
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Methamphetamine Lab Hazards

• Suspects
• Weapons
• Explosives
• Booby traps
• Chemicals and wastes
• Contaminated syringes

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Chemicals and Waste

• Flammable
• Combustible
• Corrosive
• Caustic
• Reactive
• Toxic

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Classifications and Methods

• Phenyl-2-Propanone (P-2-P/Methylamine)
• P-2-P Method
• Ephedrine Reduction
• Red Phosphorous (Red P) Method
• Anhydrous Ammonia (Nazi) Method
• Thionyl Chloride Method

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Red Phosphorous Method

• The Red Phosphorous Method is also commonly
  referred to as the
  
• Red P Method
• HI Method
• Iodine Method
• Mexican National Lab Method

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Thionyl Chloride Method
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Phenyl-2-Propanone Method

• P-2-P/Methylamine Method
• Foil Method
• Biker Method
• Prope Dope Method

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How to Start a Meth Lab Investigation

• Informants
• Researching a suspect's history
• Surveillance of suspicious activities
• Business and utility company records
• Trash searches
• Knock and talks
• Other law enforcement or public agencies

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Generating Leads for Investigators

• Self-storage managers
• Hotel/motel managers
• Retail store managers
• Patrol officers
• Diversion agents
• Regulatory agents
• Neighbors

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Trash Pulls/Garbology

• During trash pulls, remember that
• Trash must be off curtilage
• Trash must be sitting at trash pickup location

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Trash Evidence

• SAFETY FIRST when digging in trash! Remember, you
  are searching for meth lab evidence that can be
  toxic, reactive, corrosive, caustic, flammable
  and explosive!
• Do NOT transport these items in your vehicle
• Do NOT take these items into your agency
• Do NOT store these items in your evidence room
• DO photograph items
• DO retrieve latent prints (if possible)
• DO assure that items are disposed of properly

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Paper Evidence

• IDs
• Address book
• Business cards
• Library cards
• Sketches/photos
• Chemistry books, articles or catalogues
• Meth recipes
• Lab notes
• Maps and written directions
• Receipts

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Sometimes You Just Get Lucky

• Routine inspections
• Process serving
• Domestic disturbances
• Fires and explosions
• Medical emergencies
• Traffic stops
• Traffic crash

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Meth Labs Are Crime Scenes and Hazmat Scenes

• Limit the potential spread of contamination
• Preserve evidence
• Minimize exposure to hazards (physical and
  chemical)

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Children at Risk

• Abuse
• Exposure
• Relocation

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First Responders Remember!

• If not trained - DO NOT ENTER!
• If not equipped - DO NOT ENTER!
• If alone - DO NOT ENTER!

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Training Objectives

• Recognize common over-the-counter products that
  are used in methamphetamine production.
  
• Identify standard and improvised lab equipment
  used in methamphetamine production.
  
• List the correct procedures for dealing with
  reported or discovered methamphetamine labs.

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(No Transcript)
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Methamphetamine Recognition and Response

• 2005
• In Service Training