Effects on the community

Meth users aren’t the only ones affected by this drug, families, friends and communities are feeling the effects as well. Many states have adopted legislation regarding the products necessary to manufacture methamphetamine. They are known as precursor laws, and many require cold medication containing Ephedrine or Pseudoephedrine to be put behind the counter with a limit to the sale of the number of boxes per purchase. Oregon became the first state to require a prescription for medicine containing Pseudoephedrine. Along with the precursor law, some states have adopted legislation regarding the sale of chemicals, compounds and equipment sold in combination that can be used to manufacture Methamphetamine. Many leading retailers such as; Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreen’s and Kmart have adopted guidelines to prevent the sale of cold medication and other chemicals in combination or quantity.

Pfizer, the Pharmaceutical firm that makes Sudafed, strongly opposed state laws restricting the sale of over the counter cold medication to fight production of Methamphetamine. However, their position has recently changed. Pfizer has introduced a new version of the cold medication, Sudafed PE, which contains no Pseudoephedrine and also embraced efforts to control the sale of cold medication in pharmacies.

Earlier this year the Combat Methamphetamine Act, a federal law (Title VII of the USA Patriot Act) was signed into law. This law requires stores to keep medication containing Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine and Phenylpropanolamine behind the counter. Customers would be limited to 3.6 grams per day, 9 grams a month, required to show a photo ID and sign a log book.

For more information about the law in your state, or the federal combat meth act, visit www.nacds.org.

Crimes such as burglaries, car theft, fraud, forgery, and identity theft are all on the rise and related to methamphetamine. These are addiction driven crimes committed by meth users. Identity theft is huge. Do not put checks in your mail box and raise the red flag. This flag not only signals the mail carrier to stop, but meth users that drive through neighborhoods looking for checks. It is very easy to “wash” the information off of checks with chemicals. Meth users wash the check, change the amount and make the check out to themselves while leaving the original signature. They also look for credit card statements and any information they can use to steal your identity.

Blue valve on propane tank

If you come across a propane tank with a blue colored valve, do not move it or hook it up to your barbeque. These tanks need to be treated as a bomb. The blue discoloration is from the brass valve coming into contact with the Anhydrous Ammonia.  Anhydrous Ammonia is an ingredient used to make Methamphetamine. Anhydrous means without water, thus it is a very concentrated form of ammonia.

      “Meth Cooks” steal the anhydrous ammonia and often put it into propane tanks; the ammonia reacts with the brass valve, degrades it, and turns it blue. “Meth Cooks” also put anhydrous ammonia into fire extinguishers, which will also turn the valve blue. This chemical is extremely toxic. Just breathing in a small amount of this chemical can potentially dry moist tissue inside your lungs.