INCREASED METHAMPHETAMINE USE MEANS MORE LABS

Methamphetamine use on the East Coast is on the rise. With the
increased usage comes the increased number of clandestine laboratories
to produce the illegal drug and meet the user's demand.

First synthesized in 1887 Germany, amphetamine was, for a long time, a
drug in search of a disease. Nothing was done with the drug, from its
discovery (synthesis) until the late 1920s, when it was seriously
investigated as a cure or treatment against nearly everything from
depression to decongestion.

In the 1930s, amphetamine was marketed as Benzedrine in an
over-the-counter inhaler to treat nasal congestion for asthmatics, hay
fever sufferers, and people with colds. A probable direct reaction to
the Depression and Prohibition, the drug was used and abused by
non-asthmatics looking for a high. By 1937 amphetamine was also
available by prescription in tablet form.

Methamphetamine, more potent and easy to make, was discovered in Japan
in 1919. The crystalline powder was soluble in water, making it a
perfect candidate for injection.

In the United States in the 1950s, legally manufactured tablets of
both dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) and methamphetamine (Methedrine)
became readily available and were used non-medically by college
students, truck drivers, and athletes. As use of amphetamines spread,
so did their abuse. Amphetamines became a cure-all for such things as
weight control and treating mild depression.

This pattern changed drastically in the 1960s with the increased
availability of injectable methamphetamine. The 1970 Controlled
Substances Act severely restricted the legal production of injectable
methamphetamine, causing its use to decrease greatly.

Methamphetamine trafficking and abuse in the United States has been on
the rise over the past few years, as indicated by investigative,
seizure, price, purity, and abuse statistics. As a result, this drug
is having a devastating impact in many communities across the nation.
Although more common in western areas of the country, this impact
increasingly is being felt in areas not previously familiar with the
harmful effects of this powerful stimulant.

Methamphetamine and its production has been found in Sampson County.
Drug agents have busted several clandestine labs this year and
conducted a special operation to round up methamphetamine users. The
operation, called "Crystal Candy," was a four-month undercover
operation that ended in July 2002 and resulted in over 160
drug-related charges, most of them felonies, against 24 people.

Two weeks ago, Robert Edward Walker Jr., 27, of 482 Ira B. Tart Road,
Dunn, was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, maintaining a
place to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and
possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to U.S. Drug Enforcement Agent Rob Balis, the operation
Walker is accused of setting up would cost between $10,000 and $15,000.

Magistrate Robert Naylor set Walker's bond at $4,000, an arrest report
showed. He had posted bond and returned home before the cleanup
operation was complete.

Clandestine production accounts for almost all of the methamphetamine
trafficked and abused in the United States. The illicit manufacture of
methamphetamine can be accomplished in a variety of ways, but is
produced most commonly using the ephedrine/pseudoephedrine reduction
method. Large-scale production of methamphetamine using this method is
dependent on the availability of bulk quantities of ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine.

Drug enforcement efforts against clandestine methamphetamine producers
is almost like a "cat and mouse" game between efforts to cut off
chemical supplies and efforts to obtain them from non-regulated
sources. Past experiences have demonstrated that methamphetamine
traffickers are relentless, flexible, and creative in finding new ways
to obtain chemicals by avoiding regulated chemicals and other products
needed to produce the drug.

Clandestine laboratory operators often are well-armed. Weapons ranging
from single firearms to arsenals of high-powered weapons and
explosives are commonly found at laboratory sites. Not only are
methamphetamine laboratories used to manufacture illegal, often deadly
drugs, but the clandestine nature of the manufacturing process and the
presence of ignitable, corrosive, reactive, and toxic chemicals at the
sites have resulted in explosions, fires, toxic fumes, and irreparable
damage to human health and to the environment.

The production of methamphetamine involves three steps. First the
cooking stage where the chemicals ephedrine, hydriodic acid, and red
phosphorous are mixed and heated at various stages for about 12-hours,
then strained to remove the red phosphorous which is not water soluble
and can be fatal if ingested.

The second, or extraction stage involves adding sodium hydroxide to
convert the acidic material to a basic material and then adding Freon
to extract the methamphetamine from the base.

The third and final stage, referred to as the drying stage, includes
adding hydrogen chloride gas to the mixture to convert the product
from an oil into crystalline powder.

All of these stages involve highly flammable and toxic
substances.

The "Nazi" method for manufacturing methamphetamine uses a simple
recipe commonly found on the east coast. The drug is inexpensive to
make using this method because materials in this production can be
purchased at discount stores.

Laboratories are often hid in nondescript locations in both rural
cities and suburban residences. They can be found in barns, garages,
out buildings, back rooms, apartments, hotel and motel rooms, storage
facilities, vacant buildings and sometimes inside vehicles.

Labs are characteristically small and make use of common household
appliances, glassware and chemicals that are readily available in most
stores. Some of the chemicals used are starting fluid, Drano, alcohol
and paint thinner. Other ingredients may include over-the-counter cold
and asthma medications that contain ephedrine or pseudophedrine, red
phosphorus, hydrochloric acid, battery acid and antifreeze.

Some labs use surveillance equipment or even booby-traps in an effort
to discourage theft and entry, as well as to destroy the evidence.

The risk of injury from chemical exposure depends on the chemical
itself, the concentration, the quantity, the length of time a person
is exposed to the chemical, and how the chemical enters the body.

Chemicals may enter the body by being breathed, eaten, injected, or
absorbed through the skin.

Acute exposure to a chemical is one that occurs over a relatively
short period of time and may effect a person's health.

High level exposure to contaminants found in methamphetamine labs
cause shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain, dizziness, lack of
coordination, chemical irritation, and burns to the skin, eyes, mouth
and nose. Severe cases can lead to death.

Less acute exposure to chemicals may cause headaches, nausea,
dizziness, fatigue, or lethargy. These symptoms have been known to
occur in people who have entered a drug lab after a bust has been
completed, but before the property is properly cleaned and ventilated.
The symptoms usually go away after several hours.

Some indicators of a clandestine laboratory are unusually strong odors
such as ether, ammonia acetone or other chemicals, unusual amounts of
trash fires, residents going outside to smoke, heavy traffic coming
and going often, strong odor or smell similar to urine, coffee filters
containing a white pasty substance or a dark red sludge, jars
containing clear liquid with a white colored substance on the bottom,
jars or sealed cans with tubing attached, lithium batteries that have
been stripped or disassembled, glass cookware containing a powdery
residue, red phosphorus or fine red powder, propane tanks with
fittings that have turned blue.

Someone that suspects a clandestine laboratory is operating in their
neighborhood should avoid the location and never touch anything. Make
mental notes of what caused the suspicions and when it occurred.

If someone comes into contact with any substance possibly used in a
lab, shower and change clothing as soon as possible.

Contact the local authorities and inform them of your
suspicions.

Clandestine laboratories are a threat to the community where they
operate and to the environment. By reporting their locations, law
enforcement agencies can shut down these labs.

The Sampson County Sheriff's Department can be reached by calling
(910) 592-4141. The Clinton police department may be reached by
calling (910) 592-3105.