How to spot a Meth Lab

The (un)definitive guide to spotting a meth lab in your neighborhood

Because the process in which meth is made changes as new methods are developed I couldn’t call this the “definitive guide to spotting a meth lab in your neighborhood”. However, this should be a good start if you suspect your neighbors are making meth.

First off, meth has a strange odor, and the smell of meth is not easily masked. Depending on the size and scale of the operation, the odor may be strong. Some people mistake the smell of meth being made as a gas leak – however if you smell an odd smell repeatedly you can always contact your fire department (or police dept.) and ask them to investigate.

There will also likely be people coming and going at all hours. This is typical, not just of a meth lab, but of a meth house in general. Meth addicts can typically stay up for days at a time and don’t exactly use discretion when it comes to what would be considered “normal”  in a neighborhood.

Secondly, depending on how much meth is being made there will likely be containers used in the meth making process laying around. This would be tough to spot if it’s a small scale meth lab or they are using the shake and bake method to make meth because they might not have a large volume of discarded containers laying around. The shake and bake (or one pot) method makes small amounts at a time so if your neighbor is making more than just a small amount they would likely make meth using a combination of items (and some recipes call for some of these items and not others):

So if you happen to glimpse through a kitchen window or into a garage where there are oddities like this laying around out of place and in conjunction with one another it might be time to get suspicious. For instance a hot plate and a blender plugged in out in the garage might be a little odd, especially if it there is a film or chemical residue on them. Also keep in mind that these are common household items, some of which could also be used in making home made beer which is totally legal.

Lastly, the many materials needed to make meth. With the exception of anhydrous ammonia, many of these are items that can be bought at local stores, typically in small quantity (especially pseudoephedrine pills). You would likely see the empty containers for these products laying around or in the trash. The materials needed to make meth include:

Now before you go crazy on me about listing everything needed to make meth, believe me when I say that this information is all over the place online and any resourceful tweaker has found the actual recipe long before finding this list. I am listing the common items needed so that if you happen to see alot of empty containers for the listed items you can maybe make a more educated guess as to whether or not your neighbor or someone else has a meth lab going on.

I am not saying you should become some sort of secret agent here, but if there are a combination of things that make you suspicious, it may be time to contact the authorities to investigate. It’s far better to be safe than sorry when it comes to meth labs. These home made meth labs are very dangerous and explosions caused by making meth can, and do happen all the time.

Related posts:

  • Meth smell is something not easily hidden

  • My first meth lab

  • Death in a Meth Lab Explosion – Yes, it Happens.

  • Making meth? Don’t piss off your neighbors

  • Quitting Meth IS Possible

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    Topics: Drug Resources, Make Meth
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    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_G2JOKFGS532LLAKPGT4WRUFDHA no_one

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    • Tammy

      meth

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    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NPLOG7URFTZFFUNPYWUSLORJP4 Cindy Gaylor

      Got a phone call Nov, 2010. from my son asking mom please move this way you told me,In   time I will learning everything about dad. I see what dad is all about please move this way. Went over internet to find places to rent. Found a place over the internet and asked my son what he thought. He was turning 14. He said  everything looked and sound good. I Told the owner that i just beat cancer my health is very important to me… He replied that they do back ground checked and they really look into everything. I just beat cancer been in remission cents august 2007. I told stories on my treatment, and that i really need  to be careful where i move too. Then asked why they was cheep… they told me that time was hard they dropped the rent 50 dollars to get the apartments rented. Doctors gave me three years to live. I was happy i beat cancer then my son that goes to dads because i had cancer and that he wanted a father figure in his life so I gave him dad before i beat cancer. But i thought all prayers was answer. Headed toward my son I was Happy. But it was just a way to get me to walk away from my home just so he use me against his father to get what he wants something. They got my son and taught the child to lie and he is good at it now really good!!   Well i am hear moved away from everything i new to be with my son and he don’t want me in his life. So i don’t see my son. then get out of apartment found out last renter that was in my apartment was dope dealer. and made meth and smoked it,and i had i clean my apartment they left a nasty mess I clean walls floors. Everything they would not paint for me.  Then finding out i was in a old meth apartment that the last attendants was drug dealers got busted and they made and made meth, and smoked meth. then i go to the apartment complain what i lived in wanted papers about the explosion over the top apartment that exploded over meth lab. what they call it shake and bake and a roll of sweet rolled off the tip of his noise and blew the apartment up complexes I asked about all information about the meth lab that exploded. Manager tell me to find out on my own or get a lawyer they did not have to tell me nothing…what laws are out there to protect me……Life is hard when you are on your own!!

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    • Forthegood

      I can’t understand why people are putting their own health and their neighbor’s health at risk to make meth. There is a high risk of it exploding. The chemicals are very harmful if breathed in or absorbed through the skin. Where do they throw away the waste at? Don’t they care that they may end up polluting their own environment, water source, and animals. This is a situation where all of us who are against the use and making of meth need to unite to bring about change. None of us want to live next to toxic chemicals in the air. We need to call our congress representatives and put pressure on them and demand them to pass laws to protect us. Maybe it’s time to make ephedrine and pseudoephedrine illegal. I wish there was some kind of detector, like a meter, that could read the chemicals in the air and let you know what levels they are at so that the cops could immediately enter a home to arrest the individuals making meth. In an apartment, there should be some way to get the meth makers evicted immediately, if not arrested. To people who are making meth: there are better, less dangerous, more respectable ways to make money. If it’s for the high, drink alcohol – it’s legal! Also, I believe in karma – you get what you give. If you injure or kill someone because of the chemicals emitted from you making meth, you might end up getting sick yourself. If you don’t serve your punishment in this life, you will in hell.

    • Forthegood

      I can’t understand why people are putting their own health and their neighbor’s health at risk to make meth. There is a high risk of it exploding. The chemicals are very harmful if breathed in or absorbed through the skin. Where do they throw away the waste at? Don’t they care that they may end up polluting their own environment, water source, and animals. This is a situation where all of us who are against the use and making of meth need to unite to bring about change. None of us want to live next to toxic chemicals in the air. We need to call our congress representatives and put pressure on them and demand them to pass laws to protect us. Maybe it’s time to make ephedrine and pseudoephedrine illegal. I wish there was some kind of detector, like a meter, that could read the chemicals in the air and let you know what levels they are at so that the cops could immediately enter a home to arrest the individuals making meth. In an apartment, there should be some way to get the meth makers evicted immediately, if not arrested. To people who are making meth: there are better, less dangerous, more respectable ways to make money. If it’s for the high, drink alcohol – it’s legal! Also, I believe in karma – you get what you give. If you injure or kill someone because of the chemicals emitted from you making meth, you might end up getting sick yourself. If you don’t serve your punishment in this life, you will in hell.

    • Tongueweasel

      You are an absolute penis with ears that spurts vile anger. I bet your momma and pop are so proud of a drip like you. Die soon and make the world a better place. :-)

    • cmurway

      I contacted the local authorities here in lovely Charlotte & he acted like I was on Meth…asked me what I expected him to do with an attitude as well as belittling me and my mother…I will be calling the Fire Dept in the a.m. and then a lawyer in the p.m.

    • guest

      Stop renting to low income people. Tweakers are poor or very soon to be poor. If you quit renting to garbage low life people then you will quit having problems. I hope it costs you heaps of money and I bet those poor neighbors are thrilled that you rental home is screwed up.

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