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)

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1000

2000

3000

4000

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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