Methamphetamine production can cause dangerous fumes, fires

MEYERSDALE, Pa. In response to the discovery of a series of meth labs insouthern Somerset County, a Community Methamphetamine Awareness event was held Wednesday in Meyersdale.

Sponsored by the Somerset County Drug Free Communities, the event featured a panel of law enforcement and drug/alcohol treatment experts sharing information on the dangers of one-pot meth labs in the region.

Meth, a man-made drug, comes in many forms and can be smoked, snorted, orally ingested or injected. The drug is highly addictive, but the danger is not limited to dependency, the very act of producing the drug can cause dangerous fumes and fires.

Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. Dennis Ulery serves as the coordinator for the PSP Clandestine Lab Team, the agency tasked with identifying meth labs and safely disposing of materials.

All of the ingredients to produce meth are available at your local convenience and drug stores and a batch of meth can be cooked in less than two hours, he explained to more than 100 citizens gathered for the event.

While there are many recipes and methods for cooking meth, the most common method uses ingredients and equipment that can easily fit into a duffle bag. These ingredients can include cold medications, containing pseudoephedrine, ammonia, anti-freeze, battery acid and drain cleaner.

The most common containers used to mix the highly flammable and toxic ingredients are soda or energy drink bottles. Ulery said materials can be easily transported between locations and labs can be set up anywhere, indoors or out. The materials discarded after the meth is cooked are also flammable.

Methamphetamine is extremely addictive, Ulery said. The chemicals are easily accessible and it is easy to process. The process is highly dangerous. The likelihood of a fire or explosion sometime in the persons career of cooking meth is very high. They will burn themselves or burn something down.

Ulery said the number of meth labs discovered is steadily increasing. In 2012, more than 11,210 labs were found across the country, and in Pennsylvania, 179 labs were found last year.

Meth, unlike many drugs, can have an effect on an individual for up to 24 hours and remains in the body for more than 12 hours. Considered a stimulant, meth affects the central nervous system and can be fatal after just one use.

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Methamphetamine production can cause dangerous fumes, fires