Small meth labs can be set up nearly anywhere—fields, woods, cars—but roughly two-thirds are found in residential settings. A typical lab requires little in the way of materials, and the ingredients used to manufacture meth are commercially available anywhere in the U.S. The main ingredient can be either pseudo-ephedrine or ephedrine, two chemicals that are present in many over-the-counter cold and asthma medications, and the other chemicals are available in gasoline, drain cleaners, fertilizer and matches. The manufacture process requires almost no technical knowledge, and the recipe—as well as step-by-step instructions—is freely and easily available on the Internet. Of the 32 chemicals that can be used in varying combinations to make or ‘‘cook’’ meth, one-third are extremely toxic and many are  reactive, flammable, and corrosive. Mountain High Inspections offers a meth lab testing service with immediate “yes/no” results.

 

Excerpts from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Frequently asked questions about Meth Labs”. 

                

   For the basics about meth labs, click here!