Hazards of illicit methamphetamine production and efforts at reduction: Data from the hazardous substances emergency events surveillance system

Abstract

Objectives. Methamphetamine (meth) is a highly addictive drug of abuse thatcan easily be made in small illegal laboratories from household chemicals thatare highly toxic and dangerous. Meth labs have been found in locations suchas homes, outbuildings, motels, and cars. Its production endangers the "cook,"neighbors, responders, and the environment. This article describes surveillancedata used to examine the emergence and public health impacts of illicitclandestine meth labs, as well as two states' efforts to thwart lab operationsand prevent responder injuries.Methods. We analyzed data collected from 2001 to 2008 by 18 states participatingin the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's HazardousSubstances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) Program to examine theoccurrence and public health impacts of clandestine meth production.Results. HSEES data indicate that the majority of clandestine meth lab eventsoccurred in residential areas. About 15% of meth lab events required evacuation.Nearly one-fourth of these events resulted in injuries, with 902 reportedvictims. Most victims (61%) were official responders, and one-third weremembers of the general public. Since 2004, with the implementation of localand federal laws and prevention activities, the number of meth lab eventshas declined. Increased education and training of first responders has led todecreased injuries among police officers, firefighters, and emergency medicalpersonnel.Conclusions. HSEES data provided a good data source for monitoring theemergence of domestic clandestine meth production, the associated publichealth effects, and the results of state and federal efforts to promote actions toaddress the problem. © 2011 Association of Schools of Public Health.