Methamphetamine or (meth) is an addictive stimulant drug that strongly activates certain systems in the brain. It causes increased heart rate and blood pressure and can cause irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain, producing strokes. Other effects of meth include respiratory problems, irregular heartbeat and extreme anorexia. Its use can cause death.

In 1977, only 24 meth labs were reported seized in Illinois. This number jumped to 87 in 1998, and in 1999 reached 246. In 2001, the number of seized labs reached 666. Meth abuse is a growing problem in rural Illinois and you could be living next door to a meth lab. Crystal, speed, crank, chalk, ice and go-fast are some of slang names for meth.

Dangers not only exist for the meth user, but also for the general public. Environmental concerns such as: explosions, fires and deadly gases are compounded by the social dangers resulting from meth abuse. Domestic violence, theft and other violent acts are not uncommon meth-associated crimes. In addition, one pound of finished methamphetamine produces five to six pounds of toxic waste material, usually dumped in unsafe areas with no concern for the environment.

Clandestine (hidden) production of meth accounts for nearly all of the meth trafficked and abused in Illinois. Household products contain most of the necessary chemicals to complete the manufacturing process. Some of those products include: Ephedrine, rubbing alcohol, drain cleaners, camera batteries, lye, matches, paint thinner and others. When drain cleaner is mixed with table salt or rock salt, hydrogen chloride gas is produced for use in the final stage of production. The procedure is extremely dangerous and can cause death or serious injury not only to the individuals making the meth, but also to others who may be living in the area.

Anhydrous ammonia, an agricultural fertilizer, is used in the production of meth. The fertilizer is frequently stolen from larger feeder tanks using outdoor grill size propane tanks. Anhydrous will react with the brass valve on the propane tank, which will weaken the integrity of the valve and create a very dangerous situation for the user, police, fire, rescue or other emergency personnel who may come into contact with the tank.

Barns, outbuildings, hotel and motel rooms, storage sheds and vacant buildings are common places where meth is produced. Remote locations are often chosen to hide the smell from the chemicals needed to make the drug. Meth lab operators routinely dump waste into streams, rivers, fields and sewage systems. The chemical vapors produced during 'cooking' permeate the walls and carpets of houses and buildings, making them uninhabitable.

Indicators of methamphetamine manufacturing include:

• strong smell that resembles cat urine or ammonia;

• extra efforts made to cover windows;

• residents never putting out their trash or instead burning their own;

• vehicles with loaded trunks, chemical containers or basic chemistry materials;

• residents smoking outside of the building due to the fumes.

Safety tips:

• Keep your distance from a suspected lab, as they can explode from the volatile chemicals that are mixed to produce the drug.

• If you find trash with the previously mentioned items, do not attempt to dispose of it yourself. Call your local law enforcement agency or the Illinois State Police.

• If you suspect someone is a user, approach them cautiously, as users fall into a pattern of abuse that results in a "tweaking" stage (coming down from the high). This stage is the most dangerous, as users become anxious, nervous and prone to violence, especially when confronted.

For more information go to www.isp.state.il.us/crime/illegaldrugs.htm.

* University of Illinois Extension is holding Methamphetamine and Other Club Drug training on July 18, 2003, at the Springfield Extension Center Office. For further information contact Dan Dawson, Prevention Educator, at (217) 782-6515 or dddawson@ uiuc. edu.

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