Meth: An American Gothic Horror (How to recognize meth labs and meth cookers in your community)

Electric Consumer ^ | April 2004 | Unk

[SLB]

Methamphetamine is a highly toxic and addictive drug made in make-shift labs using mostly common household chemicals. Meth labs may be set up at homes, campgrounds, rest areas, rental properties … just about anywhere a "cooker" thinks he can get away with the smell in solitude for a couple of hours.

Though most users are unemployed or blue-collar rural white men aged 25-40, use among rural high school and even junior high students is growing. State police say meth makers they've arrested include a grandmother in her late 60s, a suburbanite in a $300,000 home and one pharmaceutical researcher pulling in a six-figure salary.

You can help police stop illegal meth labs by learning the signs and reporting them to the police.

How can you recognize a meth lab? Alone, any of these activities or signs may not mean meth manufacturing is occurring. However, a combination of them may indicate a problem: • Strong odors of solvents or ammonia coming from the house, garage or detached buildings. • Windows blacked out or curtains always drawn. • Exhaust fans running constantly; windows open in all weather. • Excessive trash with numerous empty bottles and containers, coffee filters with red stains, and lithium batteries that have been broken open. • Visitors and activity at all hours. • Person doesn't work, yet seems to have money, pays bills with cash. • Presence of weapons, especially sawed-off shotguns, handguns. • Extensive security in place, or odd "No Trespassing" signs posted, or boldy painted on buildings. • Presence of precursors used to make meth — multiple packages of cold tablets containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, cans of engine starter fluid, camping fuel, anti-freeze, drain cleaner, salt, acids, jugs, jars and bottles, funnels and tubing, propane or pressurized tanks (often stained with blue-green corrosion and fitted with make-shift valves).

How can you tell if someone is using meth? Symptoms may include: • Inability to sleep or eat. • Nervous physical activity, like scratching, rocking, wringing of hands. • Irritability, dizziness, or confusion. • Severe weight loss. • Flushed or tense appearance. • Chemical odors on breath or clothes. • Excessive sweating, body odor. • Rapid speech; rambling conversation. • Rotting teeth, poor hygiene. • Scars, acne and open sores. • Paranoia, depression.

Warnings: If you think you've found remnants of a meth lab on your property or along a roadside, get away from it. Discarded meth labs are toxic hazards that can include anhydrous ammonia and/or hydrochloric acid in unsuitable containers. Their contents can explode or be released if moved or even jarred slightly. Call your sheriff's department or the nearest state police post.

If you observe trespassers or suspect people are on your property making meth, do not confront them. If they are meth makers, they may be armed. Be safe: call your local police immediately to have them investigate.

[SLB]

Go to the link for a more detailed account of who is watching you, the meter reader for your local power company and how they determine if you are a suspect.

[HELLRAISER II]

I think that this is the reason that ephederine is under attack right now. Big Brother is deciding what's good or not good for us, but your right you would be suprised at just how many people are watching you and you don't even know it.

[2banana]

How can you tell if someone is using meth? Symptoms may include: • Inability to sleep or eat. • Nervous physical activity, like scratching, rocking, wringing of hands. • Irritability, dizziness, or confusion. • Severe weight loss. • Flushed or tense appearance. • Chemical odors on breath or clothes. • Excessive sweating, body odor. • Rapid speech; rambling conversation. • Rotting teeth, poor hygiene. • Scars, acne and open sores. • Paranoia, depression.

Sounds like most liberals I know...

[End Times Sentinel]

Presence of precursors used to make meth — multiple packages of cold tablets containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, cans of engine starter fluid, camping fuel, anti-freeze, drain cleaner, salt, acids, jugs, jars and bottles, funnels and tubing, propane or pressurized tanks (often stained with blue-green corrosion and fitted with make-shift valves).

 

They had me at "engine starter fluid" but it just kept getting better (chemical odor on breath, sweating, rotting teeth...).  Anyone know of a site that will tell me how to make my own meth?  I gotta get some of that stuff in my body post haste!

 

Owl_Eagle

”Unleash the Hogs of Peace.”
P.J. O'Rourke Parliament of Whores

Presence of precursors used to make meth — multiple packages of cold tablets containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, cans of engine starter fluid, camping fuel, anti-freeze, drain cleaner, salt, acids, jugs, jars and bottles, funnels and tubing, propane or pressurized tanks (often stained with blue-green corrosion and fitted with make-shift valves).

They had me at "engine starter fluid" but it just kept getting better (chemical odor on breath, sweating, rotting teeth...).  Anyone know of a site that will tell me how to make my own meth?  I gotta get some of that stuff in my body post haste!

[ken5050]

more signs of a former meth lab location : the big whole in the roof, the large crater in the ground..

[breakem]

there was a thread here this weekend from Carlsbad CA. The house got raided because they had a high electric bill. Must be growing pot indoors, donchano.

[SLB]

Go to your local Wally World and try to buy some Sudafed. the packages are off of the shelves, you have to ask for them at the pharmacy. Same in the local Kroger, a snatch and grab tried to make it out of the door with a case from the shelf there last fall. She had over 10,000 pills in the trunk of her car. Wow, she must have had some head cold!

[SLB]

there was a thread here this weekend from Carlsbad CA. The house got raided because they had a high electric bill. Must be growing pot indoors, donchano.

Also said they took their trash out at the last minute, heck I have been known to almost chase the truck down the street at 5:00 AM if I forget the night before.

[AppyPappy]

The problem is that it affects everyone in the proximity when it is made. Kids come to school reeking of Meth because their old man is making tweak in the back bedroom. Meth makes people really, really stupid.

[Ruth A.]

Meth is a real problem in Hawaii. I have no problem with people being aware of suspicious activity.

[breakem]

expect a knock at the door

[Astronaut]

Just come to my county in Washington State. We have many meth labs here, and most people know where they are. Two methers just stabbed each other the other day, but the paper wouldn't report it was meth related because we rely on tourism, and we wouldn't want the dufuses from Seattle to know that this place is swimming in meth. Meth was found in the high school last week - also unreported. The Sheriff wants to maintain the illusion that "we dont have a drug problem." The Sheriff and most of his deputies dont know how to deal with narcotics. They have two detectives that have no training in narcotics, and dont know how to obtain search warrants! Unbelievable, I know. So the County swims in methamphetamine, and it gets worse every day. We also have drug runners who smuggle tons of marijuana from British Columbia by boat, and use this place to transship it to Seattle. The Sheriff doesn't care, stating that what happens on the water isn't our problem. I just hope the druggers all OD and die off, because law enforcement isn't doing squat.

[HELLRAISER II]

This is what bothers me, yesterday I remember reading about a story from Lousisana where they have determined that cops don't even need a search warrant and it was approved by the judge. This sets bad precdence in my opinion, it's also going to end up causing the deaths of many innocents as well as cops.

[HELLRAISER II]

Meth is the new Crack Cocaine of the 21st Century.

[walden]

I just bought Sudafed at Target last weekend-- the packages may be off the shelves in some localities but certainly not here.

[breakem]

IMO that one will be thrown out upon appeal. Direct contradiction of constitution.

[Gringo1]

or most French people.

[SLB]

expect a knock at the door

The last time I took the garbage out at the last minute the state trooper who lives across the street was also taking his out. Is this a trend?

[breakem]

You think that's a coincidence? The worst part is the state police have obviously moved into your neighborhood to conduct ingoing surveillence on your family. Be careful.

[Mr. Mojo]

• Inability to sleep or eat. • Nervous physical activity, like scratching, rocking, wringing of hands. • Irritability, dizziness, or confusion. • Severe weight loss. • Flushed or tense appearance. • Chemical odors on breath or clothes. • Excessive sweating, body odor.

Sounds great......where can I get some? </ sarcasm>

Back when I was in HS kids did drugs (like beer and pot) because it made them feel good. Meth-users, by contrast, appear to want to punish themselves.