How Is Meth Made? | Dangerous Chemicals Used To Cook Meth

Most of the methamphetamine found in the United States avoids detection by law enforcement and is produced in Mexico.

These facilities — some superlabs, some domestic — produce meth that is potent, cheap, and widely available. One of the ingredients used in making meth is also found in cold medicine.

This ingredient is called pseudoephedrine, which the U.S Congress began to monitor and regulate in an effort to curb the increasing levels of meth production in the continental states.

Methamphetamine is produced by mixing solvents and cutting agents to a cold medicine base, adding water, and applying heat until the meth can be extracted.

What Is The Meth Cooking Process Like?

In clandestine labs, the base for most methamphetamine is cold medicine, specifically those containing decongestants such as ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.

Then, other household items and solvents are added to the base, such as acetone and phosphorus, to which water is added.

Once this process has been completed, it is baked to extract the substance from the liquid, resulting in the formation of crystals.

Ingredients Found In Methamphetamine

To make meth, one can also use household items such as battery acid, drain cleaner, and even antifreeze.

Since these are not regulated products, it can be difficult to track the production of meth, as most of the ingredients used can be found in many different grocery and hardware stores.

Anhydrous Ammonia

Most commonly used in commercial fertilizers, anhydrous ammonia is a key ingredient used in the production of meth.

Since it is an industrial product, obtaining it can be difficult, which is why many meth dealers steal ammonia from farms and other chemical plants.

Lithium

Lithium is a key protective ingredient when making meth, as it can prevent meth-induced neurotoxicity, thereby shielding the central nervous system (CNS) from overload.

In the creation of meth, lithium is extracted from household AA or AAA batteries, then is added to the mixture.

Ephedrine

A medication primarily used to regulate blood pressure during anesthesia, such as for surgery, ephedrine can also be found in cold medicine, serving as a decongestant.

This constitutes one of the main two bases for meth, with the other being pseudoephedrine.

Lye

Lye, also called sodium hydroxide, is a commercially available caustic substance that belongs to the ‘high alkali’ family of chemicals.

It is used as a dissolvent in the production of meth and can be dangerous or even fatal when improperly exposed, inhaled, or touched.

Acetone (Paint Thinner)

Paint thinner is used to clean the meth product of any impurities it may have collected during the production process.

Because meth crystals are insoluble in acetone, it can be handy to cut and wash the product, especially since it dries quickly and does not leave an aftertaste in its wake.

Manufacturing Process Of Crystal Meth

Meth labs can take on many forms, including can be made in a souped-up kitchen, a superlab, motel rooms, or storage containers. Realistically, any enclosed space which has the right equipment can be used to make meth.

The manufacturing process of crystal meth begins with a cold-medicine base, such as one which has ephedrine, to which cutting agents are added.

Then, water is added to the mixture, and solvents constitute the final ingredient necessary to cleanse the meth from any impurities. It is then baked, forming meth crystals.

Meth Cooks

A meth cook is someone who sources the ingredients necessary to produce methamphetamine, then cooks it either in a stationary facility or a rolling lab.

Meth Super Labs

While superlabs are not as common as domestic labs, they do exist. Many are in Mexico, due to the lack of intervention from the local drug enforcement administrations.

Usually, these superlabs are stationed in quiet areas where methamphetamine fumes cannot be detected and the chemical basins can be discarded.

Common Cutting Agents And Additives Used In Meth

Cutting agents are common in the production of meth, as they balance out the potency of any particular batch while simultaneously increasing the total yielded amount.

Sulfuric Acid

Sulfuric acid, a chemical used in drain cleaners, is another effective and easily accessible ingredient in the production of meth.

It is most commonly used to purify methamphetamine crystals and can be purchased in most department stores.

Red Phosphorus

An allotropic variant of traditional phosphorus, red phosphorus is used in meth manufacturing alongside iodine to create hydriodic acid.

This acid is a tasteless, colorless, and odorless substance used to purify methamphetamine crystals.

Other Medicines

Other cold medicines aside from ephedrine-based decongestants can be used to create meth.

For instance, dextromethorphan (DXM)—also found in most over-the-counter medicines—can be used to create meth.

Some meth makers also use anti-diarrheal medication such as Loperamide, but the extent to which this substance is used or abused is uncertain.

Powder Substances

Powdered substances such as red phosphorus, iodine salts or crystals, and lithium can be used in the production of methamphetamine.

Some powdered chemicals can also be used to change the appearance of meth or used as a ‘fluffing’ agent, such as copper salts and crushed amphetamine tablets.

Fentanyl

An extremely deadly synthetic opioid, fentanyl can be used to lace batches of meth to increase the potency of any given batch of meth.

Concentrated fentanyl can prove so dangerous that even touching the pure substance with multiple layers of gloves can cause an almost instantaneous overdose.

Evidence Of Meth Labs Or Meth Production

There are a number of ways to detect if meth is being produced in any given area, including noticing chemical waste, smelling toxic fumes, and more.

Large Quantities Of Over-The Counter Pseudoephedrine

One of the most obvious signs of methamphetamine production is when someone purchases an abnormal amount of cold medicine or purchases it too often.

Law enforcement actively monitors the sale of certain decongestant medications, per a bill passed by the U.S. Congress to regulate the sale of products used to make meth.

Toxic Chemicals

The process and ingredients used to make crystal meth result in toxic chemical fumes being released into the air, making it relatively easy to detect meth production due to the smell.

Toxic Waste

No meth lab can operate in its intended manner without the use of chemicals, so seeing irregular amounts of toxic waste bins in any given area are a clear indicator of making meth.

Suspicious persons attempting to remove toxic waste in secluded areas or during evening hours may also indicate potential methamphetamine production.

Treatment Programs For Meth Addiction

Fortunately, there are many meth addiction treatment programs available to help people with a history of meth use enter into sobriety.

Examples of substance abuse services available at drug treatment centers are:

• supervised detox services
• inpatient and outpatient treatment programs
• residential treatment opportunities
• mental health treatment
• educational and vocational programs
• medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
• therapy and counseling
• behavioral health services

Find Substance Use Disorder Treatment At Bedrock Recovery Center

If you or a loved one are seeking treatment services for methamphetamine use, give our free helpline a call today to discuss enrollment at Bedrock Recovery Center.

We offer high-quality, effective drug treatment options, and we’re ready to help you begin your recovery.

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Sources:

1. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)