Methamphetamine Production Has Evolved Over The Years
Posted
Jen Gibson-jgibson@timesuniononline.com
Second in a series.
Like many other drugs, the production of methamphetamine has evolved throughout its short history.
In 1970, amphetamines became popular as recreational drugs. Commonly called "uppers", amphetamines were made using phenyl-2-propanone or P2P, a chemical normally used to clean swimming pools. Much of the production of the drug was attributed to motorcycle gangs.
However, in 1980, P2P began being regulated by federal officials, making it much more difficult to procure.
Once P2P was no longer readily available, those making uppers discovered that speed could be made with ephedrine, which was readily more easily available than P2P.
However, the "speed" produced using ephedrine was twice as strong as the amphetamine made using P2P, and was named methamphetamine.
Early in its history, methamphetamine was primarily produced in large quantities in Mexico.
In the late 1980s, Jesus and Luis Amezcua imported pure ephedrine from overseas lab and began producing the drug in large numbers. By the middle of the 1990s, the Amezcua brothers were responsible for about 80 percent of the methamphetamine in the United States.
According to http://health.howstuffworks.com, "The abundance of the product (methamphetamine) resulted in a very pure form of meth, bringing about a surge of crime, emergency room visits, drug-related child abuse and court-ordered and voluntary drug rehabilitation stays."
Much of the meth sold in the United States is manufactured in large labs in Mexico; however, many meth users in Kosciusko County make meth in small labs for their personal use. Super labs make up about 4 percent of total labs, but account for about 80 percent of meth that is sold on the streets.
Instead of buying the drug, many users make their own meth because it is cheaper and the ingredients are fairly easy to obtain.
Just a few years ago, the most popular method for producing meth in this area was called the "Nazi Method," which is similar to the method used by the Germans to make meth during World War II. This method uses anhydrous ammonia as a key ingredient in the production of meth. As little as four years ago, police in Kosciusko County were frequently called to investigate the theft of anhydrous ammonia.
Now, people who "cook" meth have turned to a one-pot method of producing the drug and have devised ways to make their own version of anhydrous ammonia. In the one-pot method, cold pills and chemicals are put in a plastic bottle, which is then shaken to produce meth. It is no longer necessary for someone wanting to make methamphetamine to have a lab.
One-pot meth labs are now commonly found in trunks or backseats of cars, garages and even bathroom stalls. Sometimes called the "shake and bake" method, no heat is necessary and the drug can be mixed on the run.
The one-pot method is faster, easier and cheaper than older methods of meth production, but it still involves highly volatile chemicals and is just as dangerous as older methods. Even the smaller labs can cause explosions, start fires and produce harmful chemicals as byproducts.
According to howstuffworks.com, "almost six pounds of toxic material is produced for each pound of meth produced."
More Information Available Locally
A workshop designed to educate the community about ongoing efforts to eliminate the local methamphetamine problem is planned for Wednesday. "Meth 2010: Killing A Community" will be conducted in two sessions - one at 10 a.m. for professionals and businesses, and one at 7 p.m. for the general public. Both sessions will be at Center Lake Pavilion.
The event will be presented by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, Serenity House, United Way of Kosciusko County and Bowen Center, said Jeff "Hoss" Smith, manager of Serenity House.
More information about methaphetamine in Kosciusko County, visit www.killingacommunity.com
Sponsored by Serenity House, the website highlights problems associated with methamphetamine use, treatment for addicts and other resources to learn more about the methamphetamine epidemic in the community.
