What is methamphetamine?
Methamphetamine, CSA Schedule II, is a potent central nervous system stimulant. Meth is smoked, snorted, injected, or administered orally. Users refer to meth as "crank," "speed," "crystal" and "ice." Signs of meth use include dilated pupils, sweating, dry mouth, flushed skin and tremors. Methamphetamine users may also exhibit aggressive and psychotic behavior, irritability, anxiety, paranoia, and auditory hallucinations. There are also limitless long-term effects attributed to methamphetamine use including cardiac and neurological damage.
Why should I be concerned?
Methamphetamine users aren't the only people poisoned by this drug. Meth manufacturing is extremely dangerous and involves many common household chemical products. These chemicals, and the array of their combinations, are potentially lethal and toxic. When mixed, the household chemicals used in the manufacturing process can damage the central nervous system, liver and kidneys and burn or irritate the skin, eyes, nose and throat. The chemicals and fumes that permeate the walls, carpets, plaster and wood in meth labs, as well as the surrounding soil, are known to cause cancer, short-term and permanent brain damage and immune and respiratory system problems.
Methamphetamine trafficking and production is dangerous, not only to the user, but to those around the production site. The reckless practices by untrained clandestine meth lab operators can result in explosions and fires that could injure and kill not only the lab operator and associates, but also innocent bystanders, neighbours, law enforcement officers and firemen who come in contact with a lab. In addition to the dangers of meth labs, violence between drug dealers adds to the overall threat to any neighbourhood or community.
Some meth lab operators experiment with other chemical mixtures, producing unknown toxic and hazardous chemical waste and fumes that also may cause the deaths of many innocent people.
Environmental Hazard
Environmental damage is another consequence of clandestine meth labs. Meth lab "cooks" leave approximately six pounds of hazardous toxic waste for each pound of methamphetamine produced. Lab operators often pour leftover chemicals and by-products down household drains, wells, storm drains, or directly onto the ground. Solvents and other toxic chemicals used in the methamphetamine manufacturing process pose long-term hazards because they remain in the soil and groundwater for years. Clean-up costs are extremely high because contaminated soil, buildings and other materials must be removed and incinerated.
Potential Health Effects
| Types | Common Chemicals | Symptoms/Health Effects |
| solvents | acetone, ether/starter fluid, Freon, hexane, methanol, toluene, white gas, xylene | irritation to skin, eyes, nose and throat; headache; dizziness; depression; nausea; vomiting; visual disturbance; cancer |
| corrosives / irritants (acids/bases) | anhydrous ammonia, hydrolic acid (iodine), hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid), phosphine, sodium hydroxide (lye),sulfuric acid (drain cleaner) | cough; eye, skin and respiratory irritation; burns and inflammation; gastrointestinal disturbances; thirst; chest tightness; muscle pain; dizziness; convulsions |
| metals / salts | iodine, lithium metal, red phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, sodium metal | eye skin, nose and respiratory irritation; chest tightness; headache; stomach pain; birth defects; jaundice; kidney damage |
What are some other costs to society?
What can I do?
There are actions that you as a private citizen can take to ensure methamphetamine manufacturing is not occurring in your neighbourhood. Drug dealers and methamphetamine manufacturers have common habits which are easily observed. Listed below are some of these common habits. If you observe any combination of these activities, report your concerns to your local police department immediately. Do not confront your neighbour with your suspicions or enter a suspected lab.
Signs of a meth lab
Any single activity may or may not be sole proof that drug dealing or methamphetamine manufacturing is occurring. However, a combination of the following may be reason for concern.
Tips for property managers
The means necessary to prevent a tenant from starting a methamphetamine lab can be simple and non-intrusive. A landlord can eliminate the likelihood of a meth lab on their property by simply screening prospective tenants and conducting regular inspections.
Meth labs require equipment and supplies that could make a "quick clean-up" unlikely. Landlords should make "surprise" or unannounced inspections of their property within the provisions of law. If a landlord suspects or discovers a meth lab, he/she should not confront the tenant or enter the lab, but contact their local law enforcement agency immediately as they are equipped to conduct an investigation and collect evidence in a safe and lawful manner.
Get to know your neighbours
Introduce yourself to the neighbours and let them know your property is a rental. Ask neighbours to keep watch on your property and provide them with your telephone number so they can contact you if they have any concerns.
Screen prospective tenants
Check the credit history and references of all prospective tenants. Have each prospective tenant provide you with a written authorization to check with the local police for prior criminal record. Advise that you check your property regularly and have your tenant sign an agreement to allow for unannounced inspections. Let your tenant know you have regular contact with the neighbours. Confirm the number and names of the tenants who will be residing at your property and find out who will be paying the bills. Keep a record of your tenant's vehicles and license plate numbers.
Absentee / Offshore Landlords
Have an agent, friend or relative check the property on your behalf.
Hotel Owners / Operators
Front desk / office staff: Be alert for guests who pay with cash; have several pieces of luggage or cardboard / rubber storage containers; have no identification, no credit card, report no vehicle (or provide inaccurate vehicle license information); appear covert, paranoid, suspicious, nervous and hurried; may have hands with burn scars, discoloured teeth, and clothes unkempt.
Housekeeping: Be alert for chemical odors in guest rooms or the strong scent of an aerosol air freshener used to mask the odor of a meth lab; suspicious stains on carpet or drain area of tub, toilet or sink; discarded coffee filters or cloth with unknown stain or sludge residue; suspicious containers left for disposal; guest declines housekeeping services; guest appears nervous, suspicious or paranoid.
Lab Equipment
Lab Chemicals
If you require any additional information or if you suspect the existence of a meth lab, call your local police agency. In St. Albert, contact Cpl. Doug Stapleton:
office: 780-458-4388
cell: 780-983-9328
email: doug.j.stapleton@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
This page was updated on March 16, 2004.