Methamphetamine

Production

Methamphetamine was first produced in 1919 and is considered to be several times more powerful than other forms of amphetamines. Amphetamines were widely prescribed or sold over the counter to treat conditions including obesity, depression, narcolepsy, and attention deficit disorder throughout the early to mid-20th century. Amphetamines were also issued to military personnel to combat fatigue and increase alertness during conflicts ranging from World War II to the current War on Terrorism. Because of the many ways in which people could become exposed to amphetamines and come to use them illicitly, there was growing concern about their widespread availability. By the 1950s and 1960s, abuse of amphetamines in general had raised enough concern about “speed” epidemics that various legislation was implemented to restrict their production and distribution.

In response to amphetamine legislation, various forms of illicit amphetamine production, especially methamphetamine production, were developed. Much of the early illicit production and use was centered in California and Mexico. Production could occur in sophisticated laboratories that produced methamphetamine by the pound, or in small makeshift “labs” that produced the drug in ounce quantities. Through time, production of methamphetamine became associated with outlaw biker gangs who were involved in limited spread of the drug in other areas of the United States through expanding trafficking [Page 511]networks. Therefore, in many instances people were initially introduced to methamphetamine as an “imported” commodity with limited availability. Use of the drug rarely competed in popularity with other substances such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and even prescription amphetamines.

The Phenyl-2-Propanone Amalgam (P-2-P) process was a popular illicit methamphetamine cooking method for decades until P-2-P became much less available in the early 1980s. This led to the rise in popularity of cooking methods that utilize pseudoephedrine and ephedrine. Pseudoephedrine was widely available as the primary active ingredient in over-the-counter cold and allergy medications sold in nearly all convenience stores and chain retail markets. Ephedrine was available to a lesser extent as a diet supplement sold in similar settings. Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are synthesized into methamphetamine through two different processes: The “Nazi” and Red Phosphorus methods.

The name Nazi Method derives from the unsubstantiated story that this form of methamphetamine production was used to produce the drug to provide energy for German soldiers during World War II. The Nazi method seems to be less complicated and less dangerous and has become very popular in agricultural areas because it requires anhydrous ammonia as a key ingredient for converting pseudoephedrine or ephedrine into methamphetamine. Anhydrous ammonia is a fertilizer used for growing crops such as corn and cotton and could be stolen from farmers or local distribution centers.

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