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Signs
of a methamphetamine lab include large quantities of common
household products. Used as directed, these household products
are generally safe. Mixed together or used improperly, they
can become explosive and produce toxic fumes. One of the first
indicators of a meth lab is the storing of large amounts of
household items such as the following.
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These chemicals
are commonly associated with meth labs:
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Chemicals |
| Acetone |
Alcohol
(isopropyl or rubbing) |
Anhydrous
ammonia and ammonium
sulfate (fertilizer) |
Battery acid
(sulfuric acid) |
| Bleach |
Coleman fuel |
Drain
cleaner
(sulfuric acid or caustic soda) |
Drain
openers such as Red Devil lye |
Heet and
Iso-Heet, gasoline additives
(methanol/alcohol) |
Hydrogen
peroxide |
| Iodine (both
crystal and liquid) |
Lithium
batteries |
| Matches (red
phosphorous) |
Mineral
Spirits |
| Muriatic
acid |
Over the
counter cold pills containing
ephedrine or pseudoephedrine |
| Salt (table
or rock) |
Sodium and
Lithium metal |
| Starting
Fluid (organic ether) |
Toluene |
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Trichloroethane (gun cleaning solvent) |
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Equipment |
| Aluminum
foil |
Bed sheets |
| Blenders |
Bottles;
such as pop, water and milk |
| Chemistry
glassware |
Camp stoves |
| Cheesecloth |
Coffee
filters |
| Cotton balls |
Duct tape |
| Electric
portable hot plates, single and double |
Funnels |
| Garden spray
jugs |
Gas cans |
| Jugs |
Paper towels |
| pH test
strips |
Plastic
tubing |
| Pressure
cookers |
Propane
tanks and thermos |
| Pyrex dishes |
Rags |
| Rubber and
latex gloves |
Strainers |
| Swimming
pool chemicals |
Thermometers |
| Turkey
basting wands |
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Unusual
behavior by residential tenants / building occupants may be
indicators of a meth lab:
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- Access denied to landlords,
neighbors, and other visitors
- Chemical staining on walls
and floors
- A multitude of expensive
home items such as stereos with no visible means of support
- Cash purchases and payments
- Covering or blacking-out of
windows
- Security measures such as
cameras or baby monitors outside of buildings
- Guard dogs
- Unusual traffic patterns,
such as excessive night traffic or large numbers of visitors
with short stays
- Burn pits, stained soil or
dead vegetation indicating dumped chemicals or waste from a
meth lab
- Abnormal chemical odors not
normally associated with apartments, houses or buildings.
These odors may be similar to sweet, bitter, ammonia or
solvent smells.
- Large amounts of household
chemicals found in odd places such as: bathrooms, kitchens,
laundry rooms, motel rooms
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Illegal dump
sites and unauthorized dumpster use:
Waste cans or dumpsters
emitting strong chemical odors
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| Trash or waste in
pits or illegal dumps containing items such as: |
| Rags with red and/or
yellow stains |
| Large number of pill
blister packaging from over-the-counter cold, diet or
allergy remedies |
| Empty containers from
white gas, ether, starting fluids, lye or drain openers,
paint thinner, acetone, or alcohol |
| Compressed gas
cylinders, or camp stove (Coleman) fuel containers |
| Packaging from Epsom
salts or rock salt |
| Propane tanks or coolers
containing strong ammonia odors |
| Pyrex/glass/Corning
containers, with dried chemical deposits remaining |
| Bottles or containers
connected with rubber hosing and duct tape |
| Coolers, thermos
bottles, or other cold storage containers |
| Respiratory masks and
filters or dust masks |
| Funnels, hosing and
clamps |
| Discarded rubber or
latex gloves |
| Coffee filters, pillow
cases or bed sheets stained red (used to filter red
phosphorous), or containing a white powdery residue |
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IF YOU SUSPECT A METH LAB: |
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- Leave the site at once and
report it
- Do not open any coolers,
container or boxes
- Do not touch any items
- Don't shut off any
electrical supplies
- Limit time inside scene
- Handling meth chemicals
and/or meth lab waste residue can burn your skin and eyes.
Breathing the gases can cause respiratory damage
- Try not to alert the
suspects of your suspicions.
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WHERE TO GET
HELP:
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If you discover a meth lab or
remnants of a lab, call 9-1-1. If you suspect there might be a
lab at a property within the village of Orwell, call the
Orwell Police Department at 440-437-1234. |
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Meth Related Links -
Links for more information
about Meth |
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Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) |
Life or Meth |
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StreetDrugs.org |
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