NCJ Number
211154
Date Published
2004
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This videotape provides comprehensive information on the increase use of methamphetamines and the escalation of clandestine methamphetamine labs in the United States, was developed to better inform and safeguard law enforcement officers on the potential dangers and hazards when handling methamphetamine (meth) users or investigating possible meth labs.
Abstract
In the United States, methamphetamine (meth) is being called the “speed” of the 21st century. The goal of this videotape developed by the Multijurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force Training Program at St. Petersburg College is to educate and train law enforcement officers, raising their level of awareness on the dangers of methamphetamine use and the escalation in the number of methamphetamine clandestine labs across the United States beginning in California, west of the Mississippi heading eastward. The tape begins by describing the typical cycle of the meth user, also called chronic user which consists of (1) rush or exhilaration; (2) high/continued stimulation; (3) binge/repeat use, no sleep; (4) tweaking/paranoia and aggression; and (5) crash/exhaustion, deep sleep. Meth is a schedule 2 controlled substance that stimulates the “pleasure” centers of the brain (central nervous system). Creating methamphetamine takes no specialized training since it consists of basic household chemicals which are easily accessible. However, the chemicals used are highly flammable and toxic. There are many physical hazards associated when operating meth labs, such as flammability, LEL/DLH atmospheres, corrosivity, and reactivity. The videotape concludes with the presentation of various scenarios which officers may encounter and are portrayed to assist them in handling potential meth situations; they include traffic stops, domestic situations, and finding remnants of a meth lab.