Although Methamphetamine can be produced or cooked in many different locations there are certain warning signs that may indicate a drug house. Making or cooking methamphetamine requires minimal training and experience and limited amounts of equipment and chemicals, both of which are relatively inexpensive. Meth Labs can be found in almost any location, from houses, apartments, cars, rental storage units and motorhomes.

1. They Use Extremely Hazardous Chemicals to Manufacture Meth

Meth labs produce a large amount of toxic waste, which can take weeks to clean up. The whole lab is highly flammable.

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.

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 which 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 can take trained and certified Meth Lab Remediation and HAZMAT teams at Meth Lab Cleaners Australia weeks to clean up the byproducts of one meth lab.