U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services

Combating Methamphetamine Laboratories and Abuse:

Strategies for Success

www.cops.usdoj.gov

Authors:

Tom McEwen (Institute for Law and Justice), 

Craig D. Uchida (21st Century Solutions), Thomas C. Castellano, 

Edmund McGarrell, Stacy L. Osnick, Susan Pennell, 

Carol A. Putnam, Kip Schlegel (Project Staff), 

Michael S. Scott (Center for Problem-Oriented Policing), 

Matthew C. Scheider (Office of Community Oriented Policing Services).

A Closer Look
"It is critical that agencies tailor responses to local

circumstances and that each response be justified

based on reliable problem analysis. In most cases,

an effective strategy will involve implementing

several different responses. Law enforcement

responses alone are seldom effective in solving the

problem."

Michael S. Scott

Author of Problem-Oriented Guides for Police Series:

Clandestine Drug Labs
Combating Methamphetamine Laboratories and Abuse

Strategies for Success

1

The Methamphetamine Problem

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive central nervous system

stimulant. It can be injected, snorted, smoked, or ingested orally.

Commonly used street names for methamphetamine include (meth,

crank, crystal meth, speed, and ice). Methamphetamine can be

relatively easily manufactured through storebought materials, and

according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, is the most

prevalent synthetic drug produced in the United States. 

Methamphetamine is frequently produced in clandestine 

laboratories. These labs can result in serious physical injury from

explosions, fires, chemical burns, and toxic fumes, produce

environmental hazards, pose clean-up problems, and endanger the lives

and health of children. There are generally two types of clandestine

drug labs, "super labs" and "mom and pop labs." According to the 

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, "super" labs are highly

organized labs and account for approximately 80% of all

methamphetamine produced. "Mom and pop" labs are more common

and typically manufacture a much smaller amount of methamphetamine

often only producing enough drugs for their own and close associates'

use. Although these labs account for a much smaller portion of all

methamphetamine produced, they account for far more explosions,

fires, hazardous waste dumping, and child endangerment. 

During the year 2000, approximately 8.8 million people in the U.S.

reported trying methamphetamine at least once in their lifetime and over

a quarter of high school seniors indicated that it was "fairly easy" or

"very easy" to obtain "crystal meth."1 The effects of methamphetamine

intake include decreased appetite, increased activity and sense of well

being. The negative effects of methamphetamine use can include

physical addiction, psychotic behavioral episodes, and brain damage.

Chronic methamphetamine use can cause anxiety, confusion, insomnia,

paranoia, and delusions. According to a report by the National Institute

on Drug Abuse, the damage caused to the brain by methamphetamine

can be similar to that caused by Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and

epilepsy.2

1 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Summary Findings

from the 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, September 2001.

www.samhsa.gov

2 National Institute on Drug Abuse, Methamphetamine Linked to Long-Term Damage

to Brain Cells, March 2000. www.nida.nih.gov
2 Combating Methamphetamine Laboratories and Abuse

Methamphetamine abuse is a serious problem across the nation, but has

been particularly prevalent in the West and Midwest. Police officials,

public health officers, policymakers, state legislatures, the U.S.

Congress, and the media have all warned that methamphetamine is

dangerous to those who manufacture, possess, and use it.

Methamphetamine is also a serious health hazard to anyone who comes

into reasonable contact with the chemicals used to produce it; notably,

these include children, residents who live near meth labs and first

responders to the scene of a clandestine laboratory–emergency medical

teams, fire fighters, and police officers.

Local police are faced with the challenge of disrupting a drug market

where much of the buying, selling, and cooking happens in private

residences or rural locations, and among people who are often familiar

with one another. In addition, due to the various chemicals used in the

cooking process and the inexperience of many cooks, there is also a

high potential for fires, explosions, or chemical spills. First responders

are faced with an extraordinarily dangerous situation, especially if they

are unaware of the presence of a methamphetamine laboratory at the

scene.

COPS Funding to Combat Methamphetamine

From 1998-2002, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community

Oriented Policing Services (COPS) has provided approximately $137

million in funding to more than 100 state and local law enforcement

agencies to combat the production, distribution, and use of

methamphetamine. COPS methamphetamine grants encourage law

enforcement agencies to use advanced technologies and creative

problem-solving strategies to implement resourceful solutions to

persistent crime and disorder problems. Consistent with community

policing approaches to methamphetamine reduction, law enforcement

agencies were encouraged to develop partnerships with other local

government agencies and community groups to enhance the

effectiveness and sustainability of programs. Agencies were also

encouraged to craft innovative strategies (to move beyond mere

enforcement) and to track and evaluate implementation efforts. 

COPS has also provided $64 million to the DEA for lab clean up efforts

and training. Training funds allow state and local law enforcement

officers to become OSHA qualified in lab identification, enforcement,

and dismantling strategies. Additionally, COPS has provided a series of

regional training conferences that allow grantees to share information

with one another and learn about methamphetamine problems and

solutions from experts in the field. 
Combating Methamphetamine Laboratories and Abuse

Strategies for Success

3

The COPS Methamphetamine National Evaluation

In 1998, the first year of the program, the COPS Office provided

approximately $750,000 each to six carefully selected agencies.

Through a competitive process, the Institute for Law and Justice (ILJ)

(www.ilj.org) in partnership with 21st Century Solutions, Inc. received a

grant to conduct an evaluation of this initial program. The evaluation

focused on the history of the methamphetamine problem in these sites

and developed a detailed process evaluation of their implementation.

Researchers conducted interviews, collected data from police, observed

clandestine lab seizures and other interventions, surveyed partners about

their roles and responsibilities, examined newspaper articles, and made

use of existing national databases to augment their findings. This

document provides a brief summary of the findings of this National

Evaluation and, based on other COPS-funded research, provides

suggestions for how agencies can better deal with their own

methamphetamine problems. Readers are encouraged to review the

entire evaluation report that can be found on the COPS Web site

(www.cops.usdoj.gov).

Overall Findings and Recommendations

In part, the National Evaluation found that:

 Educating police officials about methamphetamine, precursor

chemicals, and clandestine labs led to increased lab

identification and helped prevent on-scene injuries to officers.

This is essential given the serious health and safety problems

that methamphetamine laboratories can create and the difficulty

in identifying possible lab locations.

 Training public works and hotel/motel staff proved successful.

Given that they are frequently the first individuals to come

across a lab or a contaminated space, educating these workers

about how to identify methamphetamine, precursor chemicals,

and lab equipment can prevent injury and promote quick

reporting of illegal activity.
4 Combating Methamphetamine Laboratories and Abuse

 Community education via public awareness campaigns provided

invaluable information on methamphetamine-related issues and

increased awareness about the prevalence of the problem.

Community members were better able to identify

methamphetamine-related activity and were more likely to

contact police about suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.

 Drug courts could be a beneficial option for offenders, primarily

because it immediately exposes methamphetamine-addicted

individuals to treatment and provides a rigid structure with little

tolerance for infractions. This is particularly important because

methamphetamine users are often multi-drug users and because

of the highly addictive nature of the drug.

 One of the major successes of the Methamphetamine Initiative

was the partnerships that were formed as a result of the

program. Given that methamphetamine presents a number of

serious problems in a community (e.g. dirty houses,

environmental hazards, chemical contamination, endangered

children), partnerships among police departments and other

local agencies as well as with community members are essential

to successfully reduce the problem.
Combating Methamphetamine Laboratories and Abuse

Strategies for Success

5

Partnerships can be developed with:

Emergency Response Agencies (Fire and Medical)

Neighboring Law Enforcement Agencies

City Prosecutors/District Attorney's 

(increase penalties and prosecution)

Parks Departments

Departments of Public Safety

Environmental Protection Agencies

Agencies or Businesses Involved in Hazardous 

Chemical Clean-up

Local Health Departments 

(enforce nuisance laws and conduct clean-up efforts)

Child Welfare Agencies

Youth and Family Service Agencies 

(to assist endangered children and families)

Neighborhood Watch Groups

Hotel/Motel Staff/Gas Service Employees 

(to assist in lab identification)

Local Retailers of Precursor Chemicals

Drug Courts

Treatment Centers

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

U.S. Attorney's Offices
6 Combating Methamphetamine Laboratories and Abuse

Partnering with such agencies provides a vast array of previously

untapped resources. It can assist in getting more methamphetamineinvolved individuals into treatment, being better prepared to handle

children exposed to methamphetamine, providing appropriate resources

to help families recover from the effects of methamphetamine abuse,

and coordinating with other law enforcement entities to share

intelligence about methamphetamine-related activity.

A brief description of each of the six agencies included in the National

Evaluation is provided below.

Phoenix Police Department, Arizona used a non-traditional media

campaign and increased enforcement and officer training as part of their

overall methamphetamine reduction efforts. The media campaign

involved educating the public about the dangers and consequences of

methamphetamine use and production and how to identify possible

methamphetamine activity. The campaign used a video, presentations to

community groups (including hotel/motel workers), billboards,

postcards, and announcements on grocery store bags. Officer training

involved the identification of possible methamphetamine activity. There

was an increase in reported methamphetamine activity by both officers

and citizens, many of the additional reports were directly attributed to

this increased training. There was also an upsurge in methamphetamine

investigations at hotels and motels as training efforts at these locations

appeared to be effective.

Public attitudes about drug abuse need to be

addressed. Too many people believe abuse is only 

the users' problem as well as their prerogative. 

The media could take greater responsibility to educate 

the community, but generally report only sensational

events, e.g., labs blowing up. Similarly, the

educational efforts should be reality-based, focusing

on the health hazards of meth production 

and effects of long term use on the brain.

Anonymous Respondent, Phoenix

ILJ Methamphetamine Evaluation 2002.

“

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“

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Combating Methamphetamine Laboratories and Abuse

Strategies for Success

7

Oklahoma City Police Department, Oklahoma focused on increased

enforcement, training, a public education campaign and a partnership

with a drug court to deal with methamphetamine problems. Officers

used undercover buys, knock and talks, confidential informants,

surveillance, and assistance from patrol officers making traffic stops to

apprehend methamphetamine users and distributors. A 70% increase in

methamphetamine labs seized occurred in the first year of the grant

program. City-wide citizen training in methamphetamine abuse and

identification was also conducted. Part of this training was focused on

hotel/motel associations and natural gas employees. Gas company

employees respond annually to over 600,000 service calls in Oklahoma

City and service technicians perform a variety of inspections both inside

and outside residences and businesses. Thus, they have wide-spread and

frequent access to properties and may be particularly effective at

identifying possible lab locations. 

Dallas Police Department, Texas engaged in public education

campaigns, drug court treatment programs aimed at reducing

recidivism, training on the identification of precursor chemical suppliers

for citizens and officers, and enforcement. Specific criteria were

developed for admission to and for participation in the drug court

program. The fact that these criteria were strictly enforced helped to

increase the program's success rate. During the grant period, the

department increased the number of clandestine lab seizures and arrests

for methamphetamine. Identification of precursor chemical suppliers

was hampered by the state's lack of laws restricting the purchase of

these chemicals in large quantities.

Before, I would have walked through an apartment

and had no clue what all that glassware meant. It

would have just been harmless junk. Now I realize

that it is a potential health and public safety hazard.

Dallas Police Department Officer, Dallas

ILJ Methamphetamine Evaluation 2002. 
8 Combating Methamphetamine Laboratories and Abuse

Little Rock Police Department, Arkansas focused on increased

enforcement and training of all sworn officers regarding

methamphetamine identification and response. These training efforts

have also been extended to the public. The initiative has established a

telephone hotline which citizens are encouraged to call if they suspect

methamphetamine activity is taking place. An information campaign

was also developed for retailers of precursor chemicals. The lack of

laws restricting access to precursor chemicals limited the ability of

police to reduce large purchases of these items. However, reports from

retailers increased dramatically providing the police with invaluable

information including the license plate numbers of large quantity

purchasers. The majority of lab seizures over the course of the program

were the direct result of citizen or informant information. This

exemplifies the closed nature of the methamphetamine market and why

citizen/retailer training in methamphetamine identification is crucial for

success. In addition, interviews with jail detainees regarding

methamphetamine abuse and manufacturing were useful to better

understand the methamphetamine market. Perhaps most importantly, the

program increased the local police department's understanding of the

nature and extent of the methamphetamine problem.

Salt Lake City Police Department, Utah took a multidisciplinary and

interagency approach to combating the methamphetamine problem.

These efforts involved the use of enhanced enforcement and

prosecution, child endangerment laws and service providers, civil

remedies to reduce neighborhood impacts, public awareness campaigns,

and the formation of a methamphetamine training team. More than

thirty city, county, and federal agencies were recruited to participate.

These partnerships were organized into regularly meeting committees

and sub-committees and formed the basis of this comprehensive

prevention, intervention and enforcement program. This demonstrates

how a large-scale project involving multiple agencies can create

effective partnerships and interventions to combat methamphetamine

problems. Having a committed project coordinator was central to the

success of the partnerships and programs. 
“

“

Combating Methamphetamine Laboratories and Abuse

Strategies for Success

9

This initiative has brought several organizations

together where little contact or understanding 

existed before. The result has been outstanding

cooperation and some real successes in dealing 

with various different aspects of the problem.

Anonymous Respondent, Salt Lake City 

ILJ Methamphetamine Evaluation 2002.

Minneapolis Police Department, Minnesota focused on impeding the

flow of methamphetamine before it became a serious problem and

preparing for the likely increase in its manufacture, distribution, and

use. The department first engaged in comprehensive data collection to

obtain information on the extent and nature of the drug problem.

Interviews with probationers and drug court clients were conducted and

were helpful in developing a program. For example, this analysis

confirmed police suspicions that, when compared to users of other

drugs, methamphetamine users were more likely to be white and

employed. They also primarily purchased methamphetamine from

residences as opposed to the street. The methamphetamine initiative

also helped to improve the relationship among local law enforcement

agencies. Key law enforcement players were regularly brought together

to share information and effective communication occurred among

them. Comprehensive training materials were developed including a

general training video on lab identification and a video dealing

specifically with methamphetamine identification at traffic stops. The

department also developed resource guides for businesses and

neighborhoods. The department trained community groups, officers,

transit, housing, sanitation, and park employees who may come into

contact with clandestine methamphetamine labs. 
10 Combating Methamphetamine Laboratories and Abuse

Equipment and Chemicals Commonly Used for Methamphetamine Cooking

Source: www.streetdrugs.org

What Can Be Done About Clandestine Drug Labs?

The COPS Office has produced a series of Problem-Oriented Guides for

Police to assist police in identifying potential factors and underlying

causes of specific problems, identifying known responses to each

problem, and providing measures to assess the effectiveness of the

responses. One of these guides focuses on the problem of clandestine

drug labs (by Michael Scott, 2002). A variety of illicit drugs are

produced in such labs, including methamphetamine, amphetamines,

MDMA (ecstasy), methcathinone, PCP, LSD, and fentanyl, although

methamphetamine typically accounts for 80 to 90 percent of the labs'

total drug production. Thus, the problem of clandestine drug labs is

Household Equipment

Tempered Glass Baking Dishes

Glass Pie Dishes

Glass or Plastic Jugs

Bottles

Measuring Cups

Turkey Baster

Glass Jars

Funnels

Coffee Filter

Blender

Rubber Tubing

Paper Towels

Rubber Gloves

Gasoline Can

Plastic Tote Box

Tape

Clamps

Hotplate

Strainer

Aluminum Foil

Propane Cylinder (20-lb.)

Chemicals (Source)

Ephedrine (Cold and Allergy Medicine)

Pseudoephedrine (Cold and Allergy Medicine)

Alcohol (Rubbing/Gasoline Additive)

Toluene (Brake Cleaner) 

Ether (Engine Starter)

Sulfuric Acid (Drain Cleaner)

Methanol (Gasoline Additive)

Lithium (Camera Batteries) 

Trichloroethane (Gun Scrubber)

Anhydrous Ammonia (Farm Fertilizer) 

Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)

Red Phosphorous (Matches) 

Iodine (Veterinarian Products)

Sodium Metal (Made from Lye)

MSM (Animal Food Supplement) 

Table Salt/Rock Salt

Kerosene

Gasoline 

Muriatic Acid

Campfire Fuel

Paint Thinner

Acetone
Combating Methamphetamine Laboratories and Abuse

Strategies for Success

11

closely tied with the problems associated with methamphetamine abuse.

A brief summary of the major findings of this publication, titled

Problem-Oriented Guides for Police: Clandestine Drug Labs are

discussed below; however, it is recommended that readers obtain the

entire guide which can be found online at the COPS Web site

(www.cops.usdoj.gov) or can be ordered by calling the U.S. Department

of Justice Response Center at 800.421.6770.

The Problem-Oriented Guides for Police: Clandestine Drug Labs

publication offers a series of critical questions that police agencies

should ask in analyzing their particular drug lab problem. Although

answers may not always be readily available to these questions, they are

important because they will help agencies choose the most appropriate

response to their particular methamphetamine problem. The guide

includes lists of questions on the characteristics of drug labs, the victims

of drug labs, offenders, chemical supplies, and current responses. It

also offers a series of possible responses to clandestine drug labs and

details some of the issues surrounding each option. 

For example, with respect to "Finding and Seizing Labs" as a response,

the author notes that although this is a common response, in the long

term this may not be the most effective or efficient strategy for dealing

with the problem. Smaller labs are easy to set up and nearly impossible

to find. In addition, because seizing labs is time consuming and costly,

police agencies may exhaust all of their resources on this single

response, leaving no resources for other responses. 

A more effective approach may be "Controlling the Sale of Precursor

Chemicals." This strategy requires efforts at all levels of government

(in terms of enforcement and enacting regulatory laws). Laws can be

enacted that limit the purchase of large quantities of precursor

chemicals and cash registers can be programmed to flag suspicious

purchases. Even in the absence of such laws, local police can be

involved in education efforts for chemical manufacturers and

distributors (including local retailers), deliverers, and other regulators

that may lead to increased offender identification. These groups can

improve record keeping, container labeling, and engage in large

quantity purchasing customer identification. In addition, laws can be

enacted to encourage the safe storage of anhydrous ammonia (used in

methamphetamine production) that is frequently stolen from such places

as farmers' storage tanks.
12 Combating Methamphetamine Laboratories and Abuse

Police departments cannot effectively fight a methamphetamine

problem through enforcement alone. As the author states, "It is critical

that agencies tailor responses to local circumstances and that each

response can be justified based on reliable problem analysis. In most

cases, an effective strategy will involve implementing several different

responses. Police responses alone are seldom effective in solving the

problem."

Possible Responses to Clandestine Drug Labs:

 Finding and Seizing Labs

 Arresting and Prosecuting Lab Operators

 Seizing Lab Operator Assets

 Enforcing EPA Laws Against Operators

 Filing Civil Actions Against Properties Used for Labs

 Controlling the Sale of Precursor Chemicals

 Training Citizens to Report Suspected Labs

 Training Sales Clerks to Report Suspicious Purchases

 Training First Responders in Lab Identification and Clean-up

 Providing Child Protective Services to Children Exposed to Labs

 Providing Adequate Treatment Resourses for Users

Additional Resources

To receive a copy of Problem-Oriented Guides for Police: Clandestine

Drug Labs please contact the U.S. Department of Justice Response

Center at 800.421.6770. To download any of the Problem-Oriented

Guides for Police or ILJ's complete National Evaluation of the COPS

Methamphetamine Initiative please visit COPS online

www.cops.usdoj.gov. 

Other useful web sites include:

Office of National Drug Control Policy www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration www.samhsa.gov

National Institute on Drug Abuse www.nida.nih.gov

FOR MORE INFORMATION

U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services

1100 Vermont Avenue, NW

Washington D.C. 20530

To obtain details on COPS programs, call the

U.S. Department of Justice Response Center at 800.421.6770

Visit the COPS internet address listed below.

Updated August 06, 2003 e08032027

www.cops.usdoj.gov