How is methamphetamine produced?
The process for making methamphetamine is potentially explosive and produces toxic byproducts. The main ingredients used in the process are ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are chemicals found in common cold and allergy medicines. Methamphetamine is manufactured using toxic chemicals such as lithium from batteries, bleach and drain cleaner, paint thinner, lye, red phosphorous and iodine crystals.
The most common way to produce meth is a quick-cook process that requires only a few hours. The main ingredients used to make speed are ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. The process used to produce meth is potentially explosive, highly toxic, and results in highly toxic byproducts in addition to the drug. Meth is often produced in large, rural areas because ample open space is needed due to frequent explosions, a typical consequence of meth production. Because crystal is an illicit substance manufactured in makeshift labs by people who do not have training in organic chemistry, it often contains harmful chemicals and heavy metals as contaminants. In addition, to increase their profit, many unscrupulous dealers will cut the meth with any number of substances, some benign and some quite toxic.
The most common way to produce meth is a quick-cook process that requires only a few hours. The main ingredients used to make speed are ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. The process used to produce meth is potentially explosive, highly toxic and results in highly toxic byproducts in addition to the drug. Meth is often produced in large, rural areas because ample open space is needed in case of frequent explosions, a typical consequence of meth production. Because crystal is an illicit substance manufactured in makeshift labs by people who do not have training in organic chemistry, it often contains harmful chemicals and heavy metals as contaminants. In addition, to increase their profit, many unscrupulous dealers will cut the meth with any number of substances, some benign and some quite toxic.
Production of methamphetamine has changed significantly over the past 10 years. Primarily, Meth has been imported into the United States as a finished drug from Mexico. More recently, officials have traced importation from other countries as well, including Canada, China, and Southeast Asia. Methamphetamine is also manufactured illegally in the United States. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the majority of the precursor chemicals used for local meth production is smuggled into the country in bulk quantities and is produced in “super labs,” defined as laboratories capable of making in excess of 10 pounds of methamphetamine in one 24-hour production cycle. However, law enforcement authorities have seen a substantial increase in the number of clandestine labs where “meth cooks” use illegally diverted chemicals to produce methamphetamine in small toxic labs.
