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Clandestine Drug Laboratories and the Fire Service Essay example

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Clandestine labs pose a great risk, to the individuals producing these toxic concoctions

they don’t realize how dangerous and volatile these chemical are. These chemicals cause three

main types of harm. (1) physical injury from explosions, fires, chemical burns, and toxic fumes.

(2) environmental hazards and (3) endangerment of the surrounding area/child endangerment. ()

The most popular drug produced by clandestine laboratories is methamphetamines.

Methampheramines are made from cold medicines, herbal pills and nutritional supplements.

This done by boiling pills in hydroiodic acid and red phosphorus, red phosphorus comes from

match pads. Iodine is also used and is obtained from pet stores. These …show more content…

Ecstasy consumed in Europe and North America is produced in clandestine drug

laboratories in Europe. One of the most common clandestine synthesis methods for Ecstasy

involves distillation of sassafras oil to obtain safrole. The saffron is then processed with other

precursors (acetone, benzene, diethyl ether, formic acid, hydrogen peroxide, methanol, N-

methylformamide, and sulfuric acid) to produce Ecstasy. Precursors for this method include

several explosive, flammable, toxic, and corrosive materials. As with clandestine manufacture of

methamphetamine, byproducts and waste materials are disposed of improperly by pouring

them down drains, or by dumping onto the ground. In addition, vapors emitted by several steps

in the process pose inhalation hazards to occupants and neighbors, especially children ().

Gammahydroxybutyrate, or GHB, is manufactured in the United States and Europe from

common household chemicals in drain openers and floor strippers. GHB is a central nervous

system depressant and hallucinogen. It has been used by bodybuilders as a muscular growth

stimulant. Consumption of alcohol with GHB results in a strong potentiating effect. GHB

has been associated with several deaths related to the potentiating effects of alcohol or corrosive

contaminants in drugs produced in clandestine laboratories. GHB has also been associated with

several cases of sexual assault.

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