Meth is a powerful central nervous system stimulant and one of a family of drugs known as amphetamines.

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1 What is methamphetamine (meth)? Meth is a pwerful central nervus system stimulant and ne f a family f drugs knwn as amphetamines. Meth is a synthetic (r man-made) drug that can be taken rally (swallwed), inhaled (snrted), smked r injected. The way meth is taken (rute f administratin) can influence the rate f addictin and disability caused by using the drug. Smking and injecting meth result in the largest amunts f drug being delivered mst rapidly t the brain and central nervus system. Any way f using meth is extremely dangerus. Depending n the methd f manufacturing, meth may range in clr frm white t brwn; pink t red r in varius shades f yellw r green. Meth can cme in pill frm, pwder r chunks. Cmmn street names fr meth include: "speed", "chalk", "ice", "crystal", "crank" and "glass". Crystal meth resembles rck candy, r chunks f ice r crystal. Seventy t eighty percent f the meth used illegally in Minnesta cmes frm ther states. Twenty t thirty percent f the illegal meth in Minnesta is made in clandestine labs. Meth is extremely addictive. Treatment and recvery may be cmplicated by physical and mental illness, including prlnged depressin. Health effects Immediate (shrt-term) effects f methamphetamine abuse may include: Increased attentin and decreased fatigue Increased activity Decreased appetite Euphric feeling and a "rush" Increased respiratry rate Dangerusly high bdy temperature Cnvulsins Lng-term (chrnic) effects f methamphetamine abuse may include Anxiety and anxiusness Severe weight lss Changes t brain and central nervus system Damage t heart r ther majr rgans Tremr r uncntrlled mtr activity Hallucinatins Md disturbances, including hmicidal r suicidal thinking Vilent and/r paranid behavir Amphetamine psychsis

2 Symptms f withdrawal may include: Depressin Anxiety Fatigue Parania Aggressin Intense drug craving (Surce: Natinal Institute n Drug Abuse (NIDA) Research Reprt n Methamphetamine Abuse, 2) What is a meth lab? Meth can be manufactured in a clandestine drug lab (meth lab) in a variety f indr and utdr lcatins, including huses, apartment buildings, mtels, vehicles, wded areas r fields. Meth is manufactured (r cked ) by applying cmmn, readily available materials t ne f several basic recipes. Meth "recipes" can be easily btained thrugh the Internet r by assciating with ther cks. There are hundreds f chemical prducts and substances that are used interchangeably t prduce meth. The substitutin f ne chemical fr anther in meth recipes may cause the prcess t be mre hazardus (resulting in fire r explsin) r may result in a tainted, final prduct with unwanted r dangerus effects. Many dangerus chemical ingredients are used t make meth. The cking prcess causes chemical residues and meth t be depsited n surfaces and husehld belngings. Als, chemical by-prducts such as txic phsphine gas may be frmed during meth manufacture. This may ccur thrugh planned chemical interactin, r by prcessing errrs, such as increasing cking temperatures t rapidly. Every meth "recipe" starts with ver-the-cunter medicatins that include pseudephedrine r ephedrine in their cntents. The pills are crushed and mixed with ther chemicals in the prcess f cking meth. Varius meth recipes include cmbinatins f vlatile rganic cmpunds (VOCs), acids, bases, metals, slvents and salts. Making meth with these chemicals can result in explsins, chemical fires, and the release f txic gases. Meth cking als prduces slid and liquid wastes that can cntaminate a building and its cntents, r the grundwater r sil where they are dumped.

3 What are the ptential health effects frm expsure t a meth lab? Health effects caused by expsure t meth lab chemicals depend n: (1) the lab prcess and chemicals used; (2) the amunt f chemical and length f expsure; and (3) the age and health f the persn expsed. Chemicals may enter the bdy by being breathed, eaten, r absrbed thrugh the skin. An acute expsure is ne that ccurs ver a relatively shrt perid f time. Acute expsure t meth lab chemicals can cause shrtness f breath, cugh, chest pain, dizziness, lack f crdinatin, chemical irritatin, r burns t skin, eyes, nse and muth. Death culd result when expsure is t a particularly txic chemical r the persn expsed is particularly vulnerable. Acute expsures can ccur in nn-drug users during r immediately after cking. Less severe expsures can result in symptms such as headache, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue r lethargy. These symptms have been knwn t ccur in peple expsed t active labs, but als in peple ---particularly law enfrcement persnnel and ther first respnders --- wh have entered a drug lab befre the site has been cleaned r ventilated. These less-severe symptms usually g away after several hurs f expsure t fresh air. Expsures t lab chemicals r byprducts ver a lng perid f time - called chrnic expsures - may cause bth lng-term and shrt-term health effects. Lng-term expsures t VOCs may result in liver and kidney damage, neurlgical prblems, and increased risk f cancer. Even at lw levels, expsures fr lng perids by peple living in a frmer lab site culd result in serius health effects. Hw d I recgnize a meth lab? Clues that may indicate illegal prductin r sales f drugs, including meth, are: Frequent visitrs at all times f the day r night, Occupants appear unemplyed, yet make cash purchases and payments, Occupants are unfriendly, appear secretive abut activities, r lie and display dd r paranid behavir, Cvering r blacking-ut f windws, Other security measures, such as signs psted arund the prperty, fences and cameras r baby mnitrs utside f buildings, Burn pits, stained sil r dead vegetatin indicating dumping f chemicals r waste, Strng chemical drs, including sweet, bitter, ammnia r slvent smells at varius and randm times during the day and/r night, Waste in trash, pits r piles, such as: Packaging frm ver-the-cunter ephedrine r pseudephedrine cld, diet r allergy pills

4 Empty cntainers frm: antifreeze, white gas, ether, starting fluids, Fren, lye r drain peners, paint thinner, acetne, r alchl Cmpressed gas cylinders, r camp stve (Cleman) fuel cntainers Packaging frm epsm salts r rck salt Anhydrus ammnia tanks; prpane tanks r clers cntaining anhydrus ammnia Pyrex/glass/Crning cntainers, with dried chemical depsits remaining Bttles r cntainers cnnected with rubber hsing and duct tape Clers, therms bttles, r ther cld strage cntainers Respiratry masks and filters r dust masks Funnels, hsing and clamps Cffee filters, pillw cases r bed sheets stained red (used t filter red phsphrus), r cntaining a white pwdery residue What t d if yu find a meth lab An individual wh believes he r she has discvered an illegal drug lab r the site f an abandned lab shuld immediately ntify lcal law enfrcement (Dial 911) and shuld nt enter the area f the suspected lab. Anyne wh inadvertently enters a lab shuld back ut immediately withut disturbing the cking prcess, chemicals r equipment. Envirnmental Effects The prductin f methamphetamine may create serius envirnmental hazards, indrs and ut. Varius meth recipes include cmbinatins f vlatile rganic cmpunds (VOCs), crrsives, metals, slvents and salts. Sme f these chemicals include acetne, starting fluid, Fren, hexane (Cleman fuel), methanl, tluene, white gas, xylene, anhydrus ammnia, hydridic acid (idine), hydrchlric acid (muriatic acid), phsphine, sdium hydrxide (lye), sulfuric acid (drain cleaner), idine, lithium metal, red phsphrus, yellw phsphrus, and sdium metal. Making meth with these chemicals can result in explsins, chemical fires, and the release f txic gases. Meth cking als prduces slid and liquid wastes that can cntaminate a building and its cntents. The dumping f thse wastes n the grund, dwn drains, r dwn sewers can cause cntaminatin f sil, grund water, lakes, and rivers. Retrieved frm the Minnesta Department f Health (March, 7)

5 METH LABS SEIZED SINCE : Labs Seized LOCATION OF METH: 95% Rural 5% Urban Represents seizures frm 1/1/5-11/3/5 ORIGIN OF METH: The first meth lab was lcated in 1992 in Greene Cunty, IN. There has been a significant increase in meth labs seized statewide frm 43 in 1998 t a recrd high in 4 f 1,549. In respnse t the increase f meth in Indiana, Gvernr Mitch Daniels established the Meth-Free Indiana Calitin, which has develped an infrmatin sharing tl t increase reprting and prmte cmmunicatin between state and lcal agencies. A website has als been created t easily share infrmatin and increase public awareness. IMPACT OF LAW LIMITING SALE OF COLD MEDECINE: SEA 444, which went int effect July 1, 5, regulates the display and sale f prducts cntaining ephedrine and pseudphedrine. These prducts are t be kept in a lcked display case r an area that is nt accessible t custmers behind the cunter. Purchaser infrmatin is tracked thrugh retailer lg bks and available fr law enfrcement mnitring. During July thrugh Nvember f 4 there were 415 labs seized. During July thugh Nvember f 5 there were 296 labs seized fr a 28% reductin. METH WATCH PROGRAM: Indiana s Meth Watch prgram was implemented in Octber f 4. The prgram partners with law enfrcement in rder t train emplyees, display Meth Watch materials, create a prcedure fr reprting suspicius activity, and prvide infrmatin t custmers wh want t learn mre abut Meth Watch. T date, 8, Meth Watch kits have been distributed thrughut the state fr lcal retailers. Fr mre infrmatin abut Indiana s effrts t fight the war against meth visit r call METH (6384) METH IN INDIANA Year IMPACT OF METH ON TRAFFIC SAFETY: Indiana is currently implementing training fr law enfrcement fficers cncerning respnse t rlling meth labs, interdictin traffic stps, and hw t apprpriately identify the warning signs during a rutine traffic stp. LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE: A basic 4-hur training class is prvided t all law enfrcement academies by the Indiana State Plice (ISP), which utlines the dangers f meth labs and infrmatin n prper prcedures t fllw when meth labs are lcated. Task Frces have been assembled t address the meth prblem at the cunty level and prvide reprts t infrm plicy and practice. ISP has als develped a statewide Meth Suppressin Unit in rder t share infrmatin with a variety f ther agencies cncerning criminal targets, investigative ideas, and methds f detectin, leads, and criminal intelligence. CHILDREN IN SOCIAL SERVICE SYSTEM DUE TO METH: Indiana recently passed (July 1, 5) a law allwing the tracking f children in the Scial Service System due t meth, hwever it is currently t early t prvide any empirical results. PROTECTING DRUG ENDANGERED CHILDREN: Drug Endangered Children Prtcls were develped and Implemented in July f 5. The prtcls, develped by the DEC Advisry Cuncil, are implemented at the lcal level utilizing available lcal resurces and are cnsistent with the Natinal Alliance f Drug Endangered Children prtcls. REHABILITATION AND TREATMENT: The Indiana Department f Crrectin, in cperatin with the Indiana State Department f Health, has recently pened the Clean Lifestyle is Freedm Frever (CLIFF) prgram. There are currently prgrams at 2 male facilities with 4 beds each, and 1 prgram in a female facility with 8 beds. The first male facility pened in April f 5 and the secnd in June f 5. The female facility pened in September f 5. The first graduating class f 22 male ffenders was held in Octber. CLEANING UP METH LABS: The Indiana Department f Envirnmental Management is currently ging thrugh the administrative law prcess f implementing prcedures related t the clean-up f sites assciated with the manufacturing f cntrlled substances. The actin was mandated in the Methamphetamine Prtectin Act (SEA 444) that became effective July 1, 5. BEST PRACTICES: SEA 444 Maintenance f the Meth Watch Prgram Cnsistently updating state list f meth chemical reagents and precursrs Develpment f a statewide Methamphetamine Data Repsitry fr infrmatin sharing Gvernr s Meth-Free Indiana Calitin Prepared by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute n behalf f the Midwestern Gvernrs Assciatin Reginal Meth Summit, December 5

6 Indiana State Plice Lab Seizures YTD thru 12/31 6 = = 99 4 = 1113 Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nv Dec

7 Indiana State Plice Lab Seizures Number f Labs Seized Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nv Dec

8 Indiana State Plice Children Affected Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nv Dec

9 Indiana State Plice Children Affected fr Number f Children Affected Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nv Dec

10 Indiana State Plice Drug Lab Arrests Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nv Dec

11 Indiana State Plice Drug Lab Arrests fr Number f Arrests Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nv Dec