Analysis of Clandestine Methamphetamine Laboratory Seizures in Oklahoma

• NCJ Number: 222424
• Journal: Crime Prevention and Community Safety Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2008 Pages: 97-110
• Author(s): Rashi K. Shukla; E. Elaine Bartgis
• Date Published: April 2008
• Length: 14 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: University of Central Oklahoma
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Special issue entitled, New Directions in Environmental Criminology. For additional articles see NCJ-222422-423 and NCJ-222425-426.

Annotation

This study examined the characteristics and geographical distribution of clandestine methamphetamine laboratory seizures in Oklahoma during the height of the clandestine manufacturing problem and after legislative restrictions on precursor chemicals were implemented.

Abstract

The clandestine methamphetamine manufacturing problem in Oklahoma consisted primarily of smaller, “mom and pop” laboratories. The lab problem, for the most part, was a rural problem. The legislation passed to deal with the manufacturing problem restricted access to only a few, precursor chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine. Oklahoma House Bill 2176 placed restricted access to products containing pseudoephedrine and was successful in reducing the number of laboratory seizures in the State in part because in the majority of laboratories, pseudoephedrine was the main precursor chemical being used to manufacture methamphetamine. To the extent that the Oklahoma manufacturing problem consisted mainly of smaller, “mom and pop” laboratories that relied on pseudoephedrine, the legislation implemented worked to impact local clandestine manufacturing. Oklahoma succeeded in reducing clandestine laboratory seizures through a policy informed by an understanding of the local problem. While not eliminated, the methamphetamine dangers and resource strain experienced in the State due to the clandestine manufacturing problem have been minimized. Data on clandestine laboratory seizures in Oklahoma from 2001 to 2005 were analyzed to understand the characteristics of laboratories with regard to seizure location, laboratory size, laboratory type, manufacturing processes, and type of equipment utilized. County-level thematic maps of the geographical distribution of laboratory seizures before and after the passage of legislation placing restrictions on the sales of precursor chemicals across the State are presented. Table, figures, and references