According to the United States White House, methamphetamine is a dangerous chemical that is manufactured using variety of household and industrial chemicals. All of the chemicals are readily available to anyone who wants to purchase them. Meth Labs are enormously dangerous to clean, live in after they’ve been cleaned, and be around while they are active. You should know these dangers before moving near a suspected meth lab and before trying methamphetamine.
1. They Use Extremely Hazardous Chemicals to Manufacture Meth
- Hydrochloric Acid – produces a toxic gas that burns your lungs and causes thyroid damage, is extremely corrosive, damages eyesight, and can cause respiratory failure.
- Methylamine – also extremely corrosive and lengthy exposure causes damage to internal organs.
- Mercuric Chloride – a toxic heavy metal that damages the respiratory tract and causes pulmonary edema.
- Anhydrous Ammonia
- Freon – a refrigerant that causes frostbite used as a chemical coolant and is used in the methamphetamine itself.
- Methonol – causes severe eye damage and may result in total blindness or even loss of the actual eye.
- Red Phosphorous – probably the most dangerous chemical used in manufacturing meth, it is extremely toxic and is the reason meth labs often explode when raided or misused.
All of these chemicals can result in respiratory complications, heart disease, respiratory failure, cancer, and a variety of other disorders.
2. They Are Highly Flammable
Meth labs produce a large amount of toxic waste, which can take weeks to clean up.
The whole lab is highly flammable. There are hundreds of stories of meth labs accidentally blowing up or catching fire according to both the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration. This is so prevalent that law enforcement has issues entering them even when the lab is inactive.
3. Short Term Exposure Causes Chemical Burns
Even the shortest exposure to the facilities used to manufacture meth can burn your skin. You will receive either chemical or physical burns if you are around them without a lot of protective clothing. Many of the buildings that previously housed meth labs are now untouchable due to the residue left by the manufacturing of methamphetamine.
4. They Contaminate the Surrounding Areas
Meth labs themselves are toxic. They also cause the area around them to be toxic as the gas from the manufacturing process spreads. The amount of toxic waste that a meth lab produces is huge compared to the amount of meth. Most estimates say that there are around six pounds of toxic waste produced per pound of methamphetamine.
5. They are Just About Impossible to Clean Up
Meth labs are difficult if not impossible to completely clean up. Many times they are toxic years after. It takes hazmat teams weeks to clean up the byproducts of one meth lab.
If you start using meth, you will probably be around a meth lab. This alone is enough of a reason to seek treatment before there is long term damage. We can help you find the treatment center that is right for you, get help today at 800-816-1059(Who Answers?).