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What is in a Meth Lab?
ACMT / BIA Meth Lab Working Group
Kurt Kleinschmidt, MD Chief of Toxicology UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Texas
My Kinda’ Chemistry
Objectives
l Be familiar with the most common synthetic methods used in illicit methamphetamine manufacture
l Describe the impact and consequences of precursor regulation
• Red Phosphorus / Hydroiodic Acid Reduction • Liquid Ammonia / Alkali Metal Reduction
(Nazi Method) • “One Pot Method”
• The P2P method
Common Synthetic Methods
Rapidly becoming the #1 method
in the US today
The method that results in most of the Meth in
the US today (Made in Mexico)
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
Seizures
Year
Nazi labs RedP One Pot
Meth Lab Seizures Reported to El Paso Intelligence Center
2000-2011
• Extraction of ephedrine / pseudoephedrine • The “cook” • Drying • Packaging & distribution
General Synthetic Phases
Sympathomimetic NH2
Phenylethylamine
CH3
NH
CH3 OH
Ephedrine (Pseudoephedrine)
NH2
NH
CH3 OH
HO
HO
Epinephrine
NH2
Phenylethylamine
NH2
NH
CH3
Methamphetamine
NH2
CH3
Amphetamine
CH3
NH2
Amphetamine
Phenylethylamine
O
O
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)
NH
CH3
CH3
Methamphetamine
NH
CH3
CH3
Methamphetamine
(Binders, Coating)
(or other solvent)
Folks often don’t isolate the pseudoephedrine
Ephedrine Bronchodilator / Stimulant Pseudoephedrine Decongestant Red Phosphorus Matchbook Strikers / Flares Iodine Crystals Water Purification Sodium Hydroxide Drain Cleaner Organic Solvent Acetone (Hardware Solvent)
Ether (Starting Fluid) Toluene (Hardware Solvent)
Acid Gas Salt + various acids
Chemical Use
Red P / HI Method
RED WHITE BLUE
Red Phosphorus Isolation
Starting fluid (ether) or Coleman fuel
Make acid gas
The “Death Bag” to capture the phosphine gas
Photo: North Metro Task Force
Nazi Method
l Germany WW II - Pervitin & Isophan were two of the name brand methamphetamine products that were used by the military.
l In 1940, 35 million tablets were shipped to the military between April – July
l But when supplies ran short, created a method that could be done locally; thus, the The Nazi Method
l Note – all countries used meth to varied degrees in the military during WW II
Chemical Use Ephedrine Bronchodilator/Stimulant Pseudoephedrine Decongestant Liquid Ammonia Fertilizer Lithium Batteries Organic Solvent Acetone (Hardware Solvent)
Ether (Starting Fluid) Toluene (Hardware Solvent)
Acid Gas Salt + various acids
Liquid NH3 / Metal Method (Nazi Method)
Is a “Cold Cook” because no heat is needed Get lithium from battery (Burns, fire)
Get A. Ammonia. Very caustic
Make acid gas
The ‘Nazi Method’
The ‘Nazi Method’
The ‘One Pot’ or ‘Shake and Bake’ Method’ l Is rapidly becoming the # 1 method
in the USA to make Meth. l Can do anywhere l Can do while on the move l Only makes small amounts –
maybe 2-3 grams per “cook” l Product is less pure
One Pot Method
l In a 2-Liter bottle; place pseudoephedrine, ammonium nitrate, organic solvent, and lithium
l Add a capful of Lye to the bottle. l Add water to the bottle; it will begin to “roll.” l Swirl bottle; don’t shake. l Take cap off every few minutes to release pressure
(Ammonia release!). Add lye occasionally to keep it “rolling”; vent periodically. Repeat for 1-2 hours
l Create an acid gas from another bottle to salt out Meth l Filter the fluid; dry out the filtrate, you have your meth
One Pot Method
Ammonium Nitrate l Fertilizer l Used to make bombs l Also in the contents of many,
but not all, cold packs
One Pot Method
The P2P Method – the TOTAL # 1
l Done in Mexico and most meth is coming from Mexico. Partially done because the cartels can’t get pseudoephedrine, either
l Used to be big in the 1970s and 1980s; done by motorcycle gangs and bathtub chemists
l Rarely done in the USA. l Does NOT use pseudoepedrine l Is less pure (contains some of the less potent
version of meth)
Methamphetamine Movement 2008-2009
Phenyl-2-Propanone (Phenyacetone)
Phenylacetic Acid Acetic Anhydride
Methylamine
Nitromethane OR
Formaldehyde +
Ammonium Chloride OR
Methyl Iodide +
Hexamine
Benzaldehyde or Benzylchloride
RED means agent is DEA Restricted
This was a Meth Lab…
And this was a Meth Lab…
And this was a Meth Lab…
And this was a Meth Lab…
And this was a Meth Lab…
http://now.msn.com/now/0607-meth-evacuation June 8, 2012
25% of known Meth-labs were discovered because of explosion or fire
MMWR 2005; 54: 356 – 359.
And this WAS a Meth Lab!
Precursor Laws l Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act (CMEA) – 2006 l Virtually all states have some form of law l Substances may only be sold by a pharmacist/pharmacy
tech and a log must be signed l Pseudoephedrine - behind counter, To buy ≥18 y/o l Maximum allowed purchase amounts l Responsibility to remain under the limit is
on the BUYER not the retailer
Precursor Laws
l Oregon and Mississippi require a prescription for the purchase of pseudoephedrine
l Some states have statewide electronic tracking of purchases – including TN, KY, and OK
Regulation has led to ‘smurfing’
Precursor Laws – Results are Mixed…
l Oregon – had 467 seizures in 2004 then 12 in 2009 l TN – had 1497 seizures in 2004 then 589 in 2009 l KY – Seizures have ↑ since the program started l OK – Seizures ↓ in first 2 years but ↑ since l Meth Lab Seizures (DEA Statistics)
– 2003 17,356 – 2007 6,233 – 2009 10,064 2004 - the final full year
before implementation of the prescription only law
Lab Clean-up Contacts
l Local Fire / Hazardous Materials Law enforcement agencies – will contact entities trained in dismantling and
disposal of lab equipment – may be government or private contractors
l DEA (Usually during regular business hours) l If the proper resources cannot be reached,
the controlling law enforcement agency has the responsibility of safely containing the area until the arrival of trained personnel – May or may not initiate a hazmat team response
Summary
l Most current synthetic methods involve the conversion of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine to methamphetamine
l Precursor regulation had an impact on the number of meth labs in the US
l Initial contact should be local law enforcement who should contact appropriate state, federal and private agencies
Questions
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