BACKYARD DRUG DANGER

CRUDE, makeshift clandestine drug laboratories are becoming more
common in Tasmania's quiet suburban streets as amphetamine use grows.

Almost 90 per cent of Australia's illicit drug labs make speed or
ice.

But "homebake heroin", ecstasy and cannabis oil are also being created
using basic chemistry tools and readily available chemicals.

Tasmania Police want the public to keep their eyes and noses open as
it joins in a national crackdown on the growing number of clandestine
laboratories or clan labs and the dangers they pose in terms of drug
supply and to nearby residents.

Clan labs often emit a strong ammonia or solvent smell, and piles of
unusual rubbish such as plastic drums or empty cold tablet boxes can
accumulate on suspect properties.

The Australian Crime Commission says clan labs are increasingly moving
into residential areas in every state.

In 1999-2000, 150 drug labs were detected across the
nation.

By 2008-2009 police found 450 clan labs.

This year, Tasmania Police has uncovered an active backyard laboratory
at Firthside near Kingston and seized chemicals and equipment for
making methamphetamine at a property in the north of the state.

In 2007-2008, two clandestine labs were found in Tasmania and their
detection led to 169 drug seizures in which 3.8kg of amphetamine-type
stimulants were confiscated.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Donna Adams said there had been a big
increase in the consumption of amphetamines since the 1990s and demand
was driving local drug-making.

Assistant Commissioner Adams said national statistics showed 20 per
cent of all arrests now relate to amphetamines.

The laboratories range from basic shed operations which use easily
obtained equipment and precursor chemicals such as pseudoephedrine the
main ingredient in over-the-counter cold and flu tablets to
sophisticated operations usually run by organised crime gangs.

The Pharmacy Society of Australia says chemists have long been
targeted by people wanting pseudoephedrine to manufacture illicit drugs.

The society says the problem has escalated in recent
years.Pseudo-runners have also created strong networks around
Australia to enable the product to be bought for methamphetamine
manufacture.

In a bid to frustrate offenders, pharmacists, police and health
authorities use Project STOP to check on pseudoephedrine purchases

Tell-tale signs that there might be more going on in the shed next
door than car repairs are ventilation pipes and hoses coming from the
building and curtained or blacked-out windows.

Dr Dominic Reynolds, head of Illicit Drugs at ChemCentre, said many of
the people making methamphetamine in clan labs had no proper training
in chemistry and this put themselves and those around them at risk.

Many of the chemicals used, such as solvents, acids, caustic soda and
lithium, were extremely volatile and could cause explosions.

"Often they are handling toxic and explosive chemicals incorrectly,
with makeshift equipment," Dr Reynolds said.

A man died when a clan lab exploded in New South Wales last
week.

Substances can also be ingested. absorbed through the skin or inhaled,
resulting in nausea, chest pain, skin or eye irritation, burns or even
death.

Dr Reynolds said drug manufacturers were increasingly moving into the
suburbs and criminals were becoming more blase about their operations.

"They simply don't care about the risks," he said.

"There is a lot of money to be made in illicit drug manufacture."