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Meth users are disproportionately likely to engage in crime:
Meth users suffer intense withdrawals which often lead them to commit crimes to support their habit. Common meth related crimes are vehicle prowling, theft, armed robbery, identity theft, and prostitution.
The rise in crime in Spokane, Washington has paralleled the rise in the incidence of meth usage in Spokane. For specific information on Spokane's geographical crime distribution, click here.
Spokane police estimate that over 90% of property crimes and identity thefts are tied to methamphetamine.
Police and medical resources that are used fighting meth are not available for other services.
The production of methamphetamine creates extremely toxic byproducts
The production of meth creates extremely toxic bi products. Many times residents of a house 
get sick, not knowing that there was previously a meth lab in their location. Cleanup of identified meth houses cost on average about $5,000.
Many times the bi products of a meth house are dumped into sewage where they contaminate ground water.
Meth labs are often created in motel rooms or in cars.
Meth related crimes result in a higher number of insurance claims which raise insurance rates.
These products are commonly used in meth production:
- Ephedrine or pseudoephedrine (cold or allergy tablets)
- Lithium batteries
- Starter Fluid
- Rock or table salt
- Drain cleaner
- Camping fuel
- Sulfuric Acid
- Acetone
- Heet (gas additives)
- Paint thinner
- Iodine
- Brake Cleaner
- Toluene
- Muriatic Acid
- Anhydrous Ammonia
- Matchbooks
- Coffee Filters
- Aluminum Foil
- Assorted glassware
- Propane Tanks
- Coolers
- Plastic Soda Bottles
These links will open in a new window:
Montana survey shows teens at high risk for meth exposure (8-31-05)
Oregon first to require prescriptions for cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine (8-17-05)
Drug defenses are lacking (spokesmanreview.net) - June 5th, 2005
Meth labs, a toxic threat to rural America
(MSNBC.com)
The meth connection to identity theft
(MSNBC.com)