What is Meth?

The drug called "meth," or methamphetamine, is a toxic and highly addictive drug. Meth is produced illegally by "cooking" it in makeshift labs. It can be found in the form of pills, powder, and chunks, and can be smoked, snorted, injected, or ingested. Meth is developed from amphetamines, but has a much stronger effect on the central nervous system. Meth is also known as crank, crystal, speed, and ice.

How to Recognize a Meth Lab

A typical meth lab will contain chemical bottles, pressurized cylinders, hoses, and bottles or "blister packs" of ephedrine. The cylinders may be in the form of modified propane tanks, fire extinguishers, scuba tanks, or soft drink dispensers, and usually contain anhydrous ammonia or hydrochloric acid. Both of these chemicals are poisonous and corrosive. Meth labs may be set up at campgrounds, rest areas, houses (especially rentals), motel rooms, apartments, abandoned cars, garages, storage sheds, barns, and vacant buildings. They are frequently abandoned, leaving behind toxic and potentially explosive chemicals. You may also find chemicals dumped in the woods or along roadsides.

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Created by the Oregon Department of Human Services