Methamphetamine Recipe

Street or slang terms include crystal, ice, crissy, tweak, and crank. Meth, or methamphetamine (N-Methyl-1-phenylpropan-2-amine), is a potent, highly addictive central nervous system stimulant that has an intense euphoric effect, can increase wakefulness and activity, and decrease appetite. The DEA classifies meth as a Schedule II controlled substance, meaning it has some medical uses (including the prescription methamphetamine Desoxyn, used for weight loss and ADHD,) but may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

In small-scale home labs in the U.S., over-the-counter cold medicines that contain ephedrine or pseudoephedrine serve as the base for this drug. These components are then cooked with chemicals like acetone, Freon, and phosphorous; water is added; then a solvent like acetone is heated to extract methamphetamine. The heat creates crystals.

Although a great deal of methamphetamine sold on the street is most likely not significantly diluted like other drugs such as heroin or cocaine, there are products that can be added to increase the volume of the drug and reduce the actual psychoactive substance. Some cutting agents for meth include:

Physical deterioration can be frighteningly rapid in meth abusers. The damage associated with chronic abuse of methamphetamine may not be fully reversible. Individuals may suffer significant organ and brain damage as a result of chronic methamphetamine abuse. The substance itself is corrosive, and individuals experience major issues with their skin and teeth (see below) after using the drug for even a short period of time. Inhaling meth causes significant lung damage and respiratory issues. The central nervous system effects of methamphetamine create significant neurological issues as well as cardiovascular issues, liver, and kidney damage.

There are no FDA-approved medications to treat addiction to methamphetamines, but a recent study5 showed promise when patients in clinics around the U.S. suffering from methamphetamine use disorder were given a combination of naltrexone and bupropion (vs. placebo.) The treatment helped 13.4% of patients with their addiction, compared to 2.5% of the placebo group. Patients seeking help should ask their addiction team about this treatment option.

The production of methamphetamine has been made more difficult by federal regulations, like the Combat Methamphetamine Act of 2005, aimed at controlling the flow of precursor chemicals such as ephedrine and pseudoephedrine (found in some cold remedies), as well as other necessary components. Through theft, subterfuge, forgeries, personal connections and sheer willpower, determined cooks are able to collect enough materials to make some home-grown meth.

Large-scale labs are often located inside abandoned barns or warehouses set up specifically for the purpose of factory-line production of methamphetamine. They aren't necessarily dilapidated properties. They may actually be glistening corporate-style factories that crank out countless pounds of meth per year [source: Matthews].

Much as a destination can be reached by taking one of several different routes, so too can crystal methamphetamine be produced by a number of different methods, including scary \"shake-and-bake\" and \"one-pot\" processes. All of them, though, involve ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. The entire process can involve as many as 32 different chemicals, but the formula varies by the ingenuity and intelligence of the \"chemists\" [source: Snell].

Because illicit methamphetamine production is not regulated or supervised, and there is no quality control process, any number of cutting agents could conceivably be added to the process to dilute the drug.

There are many detrimental health effects associated with operating a meth lab. Inhaling fumes during methamphetamine production can cause significant lung damage and other respiratory issues, while handling the various corrosive or poisonous chemicals can damage the skin and eyes.

The standard process for producing methamphetamine requires space. Meth labs produce quite a bit of waste products and involve the use of numerous appliances, such as pots and pans for heating, stoves or burners, hoses for ventilation, curtains or other blockages, so individuals from the outside cannot see what is going on inside. This process can be quite expensive and difficult to maintain.

In addition, these sophisticated laboratories can often be spotted quite easily by legal authorities who are on the lookout for them and present a serious danger for the individuals who work in them, due to the highly unstable process of making methamphetamine and the combustible materials used in the process.

Physical deterioration can be very rapid in chronic users. The damage associated with chronic use of methamphetamine may not be fully reversible. Individuals may suffer significant organ damage and even brain damage as a result of chronic methamphetamine use.

A historical overview of methamphetamine profiling efforts in the United States is presented. Methamphetamine profiling has revealed key precursor and recipe strategies that have changed throughout the years. By studying different clandestine recipes and analyzing thousands of methamphetamine samples over the years, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Methamphetamine Profiling Program (MPP) has collected and reported on changes in drug quality and production trends. This review will discuss methamphetamine drug profiling trends that cover over two decades of forensic results.

This information brief discusses the use of iodine in methamphetamine production, its hazards, availability, theft and diversion, and attempts at control by legislation. Your questions, comments, and suggestions for future subjects are welcome at any time. Addresses are provided at the end of the page. Contents Overview

Iodine crystals, which are used legally for a variety of commercial andmedical purposes, frequently are used illegally to produce high qualityd-methamphetamine. The following ephedrine/pseudoephedrine reduction methodutilizes iodine in the production process.

The federal government regulates the sale of iodine crystals, which arereadily available for legitimate uses. However, it is illegal to import, export,purchase, or sell iodine crystals in the United States if they are used orintended to be used in the production of methamphetamine. Typicallymethamphetamine producers acquire iodine crystals through theft or diversion,from Mexican criminal groups that smuggle iodine into the United States acrossthe U.S.-Mexico border, or by purchasing and crystallizing iodine tincture, thesale of which is not regulated in most U.S. states.

Methamphetamine producers use iodine crystals to produce hydriodic acid, thepreferred reagent in the ephedrine/pseudoephedrine reduction method ofd-methamphetamine production. A reagent is a chemical used in reactions toconvert a precursor into a finished product. The reagent does not become part ofthe finished product. The regulation of hydriodic acid by the Drug EnforcementAdministration (DEA) in 1993 rendered the chemical virtually unavailable in theUnited States.

Hydriodic acid can be produced by combining iodine crystals with water andsome form of phosphorus, including red phosphorus, hypophosphorous acid, orphosphorous acid. In the methamphetamine production process, iodine crystals maybe used to prepare hydriodic acid in a separate step or may be introduceddirectly into the synthesis of the methamphetamine.

Small-scale methamphetamine producers who are unable to obtain iodinecrystals occasionally produce them from iodine tincture by mixing iodinetincture with hydrogen peroxide. This is a time-consuming process that yields avery small amount of iodine crystals in relation to the amount of tincture andhydrogen peroxide used.

Iodine crystals may be purchased from a variety of businesses. Crystalstypically are available for sale at chemical supply stores, feed and tackstores, and veterinary clinics and suppliers. Iodine also is widely available onthe Internet. One online pharmacy, for example, sells iodine crystals in ouncequantities for approximately $14. One pound of iodine crystals retails forapproximately $160. A rancher with a large farm typically may use up to 2 ouncesto treat a herd in 1 year. A methamphetamine producer, on the other hand, mayuse 2 to 4 pounds to produce 1 pound of methamphetamine.

On May 15, 2002, a federal jury convicted a feed store owner in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, on 12 criminal charges for selling iodine crystals to methamphetamine producers. The charges included conspiracy to distribute listed chemicals, possession and distribution of listed chemicals, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. From January 1998 through September 2000, the store owner purchased nearly 5,000 pounds of iodine crystals at a cost of $8 per ounce and sold the crystals for $50 per ounce to individuals from Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. During the trial witnesses testified that the store owner knew the crystals were to be used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Law enforcement reporting indicates that the theft and diversion of iodinecrystals occur most frequently in the western half of the United States,particularly in states where methamphetamine production and abuse are prevalent.Law enforcement officials in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico,Oklahoma, and Oregon have reported numerous incidents of iodine theft anddiversion. Most of these incidents occurred at businesses that appear to belegitimate. Feed and tack stores, also primary sources for the cutting agent MSM(methylsulfonylmethane), are particular targets.

Currently, most methamphetamine in the United States is produced by transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) in Mexico.44 This methamphetamine is highly pure, potent, and low in price. The drug can be easily made in small clandestine laboratories, with relatively inexpensiv