Drug prevention experts say the finding of the latest methamphetamine lab in Cicero this past week is an opportunity for the community to learn more about the drug and its impacts. A tip led Onondaga County Sheriff’s Deputies to a home on Bellwood Circle where they found materials for a home Meth lab throughout the house. Prevention NetworkExecutive Director Beth Hurney explains the chemicals used are dangerous and volatile.
“There’s the release of hazardous chemicals, when you put all these chemicals together. People are breathing them in. The pot, as it’s called, which is often a 2-liter soda bottle that gets discarded after it’s used, the residue is still in there. So we have toxic chemicals present in our environment, whether there’s an explosion or not.”
The risks of explosion and toxic fumes caused neighboring homes to be evacuated. Hazardous materials experts were also needed to investigate and remove the materials.
Hurney explains addiction to Meth happens very quickly. It often leads to physical changes of the user’s skin or teeth. She says restrictions on medications used to make Meth haven’t been effective.
“The pseudoephedrine is certainly one of the ingredients and it’s behind the counter now and there’s some of those restrictions in place. You don’t need a significant amount of it and the other products, hydrogen peroxide, lighter fluid and ammonium nitrate, are readily available. So there are some controls in place but that’s not obviously solving the problem.”
Hurney says Prevention Network and other agencies continue to do education about the effects of the drug, the dangers of home Meth labs, and for people to be on the lookout for people with materials to make it.
As of Monday afternoon Sheriff's deputies are still investigating the suspected meth lab at 13 Bellewood Circle, Cicero. Ne charges have been filed yet.
