Meth

[Meezers]

I am glad I am not the only one who know the word "tweekers"...course I work with cops.

Meth is epidemic....and the labs can be anywhere...here in the Atlanta area they have busted some meth labs in nice middle-upper class neighborhoods.

It was kinda funny trying to explain "meth mouth" to my Mom....the chemicals used (to include Drano) are so corrosive that the teeth turn black and rot very quickly....Mom is kinda sheltered (thank goodness!).

If you suspect a meth lab....even breathing can be hazardous....don't go back....I would report it....anonymously if you can....but keep checking the location...but remember...drug busts can take a long time...you still have to justify the warrant..etc...it won't happen overnight.

 

[SillyMe]

Everytime I get to go off to a conference on domestic violence, there is usually a couple of classes on Meth. I try to hit at least one of the each time, there is always so much new information about this drug out there!!

Something that stood out to me at the last one was that it was put on through a partnership with the military. The military always brings the most graphic pictures!! UGH!!

Anyway, some of the stuff that they went over was the gas that is put off when cooking meth is highly dangerous as we all know. But, in some cases, it is can be instantly lethal if mixed a certain way. They showed pictures of this guy, dead of course, who had inhaled ONE breath of the gas and it began to liquify his lungs. He basically drowned in his own fluids. It was horrible to see.

Second was talking about how it makes holes in your brain. Part of the brain that it destroys is memory. They are estimating that in 10 years, we will have a society of young adults, (twenty somethings) that will have to be cared for like we are caring for elderly in nursing homes because these kids will not be able to remember from day to day how to care for themselves.

That is scary.

A girl in my dd's school almost died from it. She was in a coma for several weeks. She's very lucky to be alive. She's out and back to school, and rumor has it, she's still doing it.

 

[marlasmom]

Bumping to ask if you think the smell is sufficient grounds to call the police. Thanks again.

 

[mum4jenn]

I don't know what your job is but I am guessing it is some type of case worker??? I would report it and see if they could have an undercover officer go on a visit with you posing as a trainee. That person would have more knowledge about it and the smells and what to look for and maybe they would be able to determin if it is meth or not.

Also these people do not always cook it in the kitchen. I have seen on the news where it was cooked in the other rooms of the house using portable cooktops and such as well as cooking it in buildings outside,trunks of cars,etc.

 

[JerseyJanice]

mum4jenn, MM is a volunteer guardian ad liteum.

MM, why are you asking this question here? Shouldn't you be asking your supervisor? Or the social worker who is in charge of this case?

 

[chrissyk]

Forgive me for the incredibly stupid question, but what the heck IS meth anyways So far, I've seen Sudafed, Coleman fuel, Draino, fertilizer and some other stuff on this thread. Who on earth would come up with putting this stuff together and then ingesting it? That's beyond strange, and beyond scary.

 

[SillyMe]

Here are some signs to look for. There are also pictures if you follow the link.

http://www.azag.gov/DEC/HowToRecogize.html

How can I recognize a meth lab?
Meth labs are dangerous to those who live in them, and also present dangers to law enforcement, safety, and utility workers as well as to delivery persons, neighbors, and door-to-door solicitors who may unexpectedly come across them. Of the many signs of illegal drug manufacturing, some are more obvious than others. Watch for these signs as an alert to a possible drug lab:

Strong chemical smells like fuel or ammonia

Laboratory equipment, including glass tubing, beakers/flasks, Bunsen burners, funnels and large plastic containers

Windows covered with plastic, foil, wood, tarps or other materials

Hoses hanging from windows

An unusual number of cook stoves, hot plates, or blow torches

Melted pots and pans

Bottles in a refrigerator or freezer where fluids and solids have been separated

Evidence of large quantities of cold medication and non-prescription weight loss products that contain pseudoephedrine or ephedrine, the basic ingredient in meth

Large quantities of chemical cans or drums in the yard (e.g., Drano, iodine crystals, Red Devil Lye, pool acid with no pool present, antifreeze in a hot climate)

Large quantities of kitty litter, used to trap toxic gases

People standing outside only long enough to smoke

Automobile or foot traffic at all hours of the day and night

Heavily barred windows or doors on houses or outbuildings

Surveillance cameras and audio listening devices

New high fences with no visible signs of animals

Orange-brown or rust colored stains on walls, floors, counter tops, bathtubs and sinks

Dismantled smoke detectors

 

[marlasmom]

Thanks. I haven't seen any of the other things, but I haven't been looking. I have to go back this week anyway and I now know what to look for. I didn't even know what meth is.

JJ - it's the weekend. I asked here for the spelling so I could do some research. My search turned up quite a lot on the smell. FWIW my supervisor was at the same house and didn't notice the smell. I am not supersensitive to smells but it really knocked me out. So I asked about the smell. OK?

I don't know if I am allowed to go through the carport, etc. I have e-mailed my supervisor and I'll get a response on Monday. The social worker has over 40 cases and is also supervising other case workers and it takes weeks to get a response from her. Sad but true.

After thinking about it I won't report to the police (unless my supervisor thinks I should) until I see some other "evidence." OTOH no one in that house is working except for AFDC so I don't know how they are managing. Two of the people have not gone for their last 3 drug tests and that's a red flag.

My responsibility is the children, not the parents, but of course there is a lot of overlap and the lines are not clearly defined. I am supposed to make sure the parents or custodians are following their case plan. If there is evidence that the children are being endangered I will have them out of there in minutes and I'll transport them myself if necessary and the managers will be ok with it.

Thanks everybody for your help and advice. Constructive advice is always welcome.

 

[marlasmom]

Crissyk it's a drug that is easily manufactured at home using easy-to-obtain ingredients that reportedly gives the user a 12 hour high. It seems that it is incredibly destructive to one's body, rotting teeth and destroying internal organs. It is also explosive. Someone, Dmslush I think, said that even inhaling it innocently can lead to death. It seems to be very prevalent among younger people. I have two cases where the parents were using meth leading to the children being sheltered. It seems to be much more destructive than other drugs I have read about.

For those that asked, you can still get the Sudafed you want. You just have to sign your name acknowledging that you are getting it. I don't know what would prevent you from going to a lot of different drug stores and I don't know how much of it is needed to manufacture meth.