LEARN MORE ABOUT METH

Labs Present Health Hazard in More Ways Than One.

For most people, methamphetamine -- or "meth," as it is more
commonly known -- is a drug they've read about in the newspaper, but
it is not something that has directly touched their lives.

But it's out there and has an effect, one way or the other, on all of
us.

Tennessee has the sad distinction of being No. 1 in meth production
labs. Here in Montgomery County, 15 of these labs were discovered last
year.

The proliferation of the labs is due to the fact that they are
relatively cheap to set up, and meth production doesn't take either an
advanced chemistry degree nor a list of exotic chemicals.

In addition to the illegal drug itself, byproducts from these labs
include vapors that can be deadly, particularly to children. They also
present an explosion hazard because the chemicals can be highly
combustible.

The average methamphetamine laboratory produces five to seven pounds
of toxic waste for every pound of methamphetamine produced. Cleanup
costs can be in the thousands of dollars and are borne by law
enforcement agencies -- which means the costs are eventually passed
along to the taxpayers.

Signs of meth labs include boarded windows, an abnormal amount of
traffic, empty chemical containers and air conditioners that run even
during the winter.

Citizens who suspect a potential meth lab are urged to call 911 or the
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation hotline at (877) 866-6384.

These represent such an extreme potential hazard, they should not be
ignored.

People who want more information on the indicators of meth and how to
help law enforcement should consider attending a seminar produced by
Premier Safety on Wednesday morning at the Customs House Museum and
Cultural Center.

When it comes to the war on drugs, education always is a key component.