THE FACTS ABOUT THIS DRUG

Methamphetamine can be made in small stovetop labs that produce only a few
ounces and can fit in a suitcase, or in large cooking vats that produce
hundreds of pounds for Mexican drug cartels.

Recipes are on the Internet and are traded nationwide by meth cooks.

Meth includes ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, which are over-the-counter cold
and asthma medications.

Here are other chemicals and compounds found in methamphtamine labs:

Acetic acid

Flammable; vapor is irritating if inhaled; can cause severe burns to eyes
and skin; poisonous if ingested.

Acetic anhydride

Flammable; vapor is irritating if inhaled; liquid may burn eyes and skin
severely; ingestion causes irritation, pain and vomiting.

Acetone

Highly flammable; vapor irritates eyes and nose in high concentrations;
inhalation may cause dizziness, narcosis or coma; liquid may severely damage
eyes; ingestion can cause coma.

Benzyl chloride

Vapor irritates respiratory system, mucous membranes, eyes and skin; liquid
can cause burns; poisonous if ingested.

Ephedrine

Harmful if swallowed in large quantities.

Ethyl alcohol

Highly flammable; causes impaired perception and coordination in high
concentrations.

Ethyl amine

Vapor irritates the mucous membranes, respiratory system and eyes; may
affect the central nervous system in high concentrations; liquid irritates
eyes and skin; poisonous if ingested.

Ethyl ether

Highly flammable; inhaling vapor or ingesting liquid may cause drowsiness,
dizziness, mental confusion, faintness and, in high concentrations,
unconsciousness.

Hydriodic acid

Vapor irritates respiratory system, skin and eyes, liquid causes severe
burns to eyes and skin; may cause severe internal irritation and damage if
ingested.

Hydrochloric acid

Inhaling may cause coughing, choking and inflammation and ulceration of the
respiratory tract; concentrated solutions cause severe burns; strongly
corrosive; causes eye irritation; prolonged exposure to vapors can cause
death.

Iodine

Vapor irritates respiratory system and eyes; solid form irritates eyes and
may burn the skin; poisonous if ingested.

Isopropyl alcohol

Flammable; inhaling vapor in high concentrations or ingesting liquid may
cause headaches, dizziness, depression, nausea, vomiting or coma; liquid can
cause severe eye damage.

Nitroethane

Vapor irritates eyes and respiratory system; liquid irritates eyes and
mucous membranes; absorption via skin contact or ingestion may cause liver
and kidney damage.

Petroleum ether

Highly flammable; toxic.

Phenyl-2-propanone

Irritating to skin and eyes.

Phenylacetic acid

Moderately toxic by ingestion; has been linked to cancer in animal

experiments; emits smoke and irritating fumes when heated.

Pseudoephedrine

Harmful if swallowed in large quantities; irritating to skin and eyes.

Red phosphorous

Vapors can irritate the nose, throat, lungs and eyes.

Sodium hydroxide

Concentrated material is very corrosive to human tissue; solid form or
liquid can cause severe burns to eyes and skin; poisonous if ingested.

Sulfuric acid

Concentrated acid is extremely corrosive to skin; causes severe burns.

Thionyl chloride

Causes burns; irritating to respiratory system if inhaled; may ignite other
combustible material.

Toluene

Flammable; can burn or irritate mucous membranes, eyes and respiratory
tract; vapors may cause dizziness.

Source: San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, First Responder
Awareness training manual