Government Regulation of Methamphetamines

Today’s Presenter: Michael J. Ochs

What is Methamphetamine?• Psycho-stimulant• Powerful upper• Affects the central nervous

system• Increases metabolism, heart

rate, blood pressure• Increases body temperature

and rate of breathing• Produces euphoria• “Poor Man’s Cocaine”

5000 YEARS AGOMa huang

Ephedra plants

Used to treat bronchial and sinus illnesses

Ephedrine is the active ingredient.

1887 SYNTHETIC ALTERNATIVE

Synthesized in Germany

Amphetamine

1919 MORE POTENT FORM

Japanese pharmacologist

Methamphetamine

WORLD WAR II

Given to allied troops to fight hunger and fatigue

Hitler is said to have used it 8 times a day

Used by kamikaze pilots for courage

1960s “SPEED, CHALK, CRANK”

Amphetamine trade

Smuggled by biker gangs in crankcases of bikes “crank.”

Speedballs-combination of amphetamine and heroin shot up

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Q: What over-the-counter (OTC) drug is used to make illegal methamphetamine?

The answer is…

Pseudoephedrine can be used to make methamphetamine

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99% OF METH USED IN U.S. COMES FROM PSEUDOEPHEDRINE

THE CHEMICAL PROCESS

C10H15NOEphedrine /

Pseudoephedrine

THE CHEMICAL PROCESS

C10H15NOO

C10H15NMethamphetamine

THE CHEMICAL PROCESS

C10H15NOO

C10H15NAdd Hydrogen

Chloride to make it water-soluble

+ HCl

Red Phosphorus MethodThis method combines

red phosphorous, usually taken from the strips in matchboxes: pseudoephedrine, from cold tablets and iodine.This method

produces phosphine gas which can be lethal!

The Ammonia MethodThe other method, more

common in farming country, involves anhydrous ammonia, a liquid fertilizer, cooked with PSE & lithium, taken from batteriesThis method produces a

cloud of ammonia gas, which is extremely dangerous!

Gas

SCRATCH ONE OXYGEN ATOM

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NaSodium

3

LiLithium

Alkali Metals

DrainCleaner

Lye – Sodium HydroxideLithium Batteries

ExtractedSodium or

Lithium Metal

What do “Clandestine” Labs look like

• Toxic time bombs• Highly flammable

liquids• Caustics• Acids• Gases• Explosive

Q. Does methamphetamine production have an impact on

the environment?

Yes!

For each pound of methamphetamine produced, five to seven pounds of toxic waste remain, which is often introduced into the environment via streams, septic systems, and surface water run-off.

Federal Legislation

National Oversight AgenciesFood and Drug Administration (FDA)

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)

State boards of pharmacyMichael J. Ochs. 22

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on controlling drug diversion

Most of its effort spent on illegal drug trafficking, but also supervises legal use of controlled substances

Inspects medical facilities and pharmacies; usually just those where suspicious activity has been detected

It monitors shipping of legal controlled substances across United States borders, and gives permits for imports/exports.

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Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 – (Federal)

Referred to as the Controlled Substances Act1986 attempted revision fought by drug

manufacturers.

Created to combat drug abuse

Classified drugs according to their potential for abuse

Michael J. Ochs 24

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Abuse Potential and Schedules

Examples

I - marijuana, heroin, no medical usage

II - morphine, oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydromorphone (Dilaudid®)

III - methylphenidate (Ritalin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®, Lortab®), anabolic steroids (Anadrol® )

IV - benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium®) and alprazolam (Xanax®)

V - Medications having limited opioids in combination with other substances (codeine containing analgesics, cough and cold preparations)

Most Abusive

Less Abusive

Schedule

Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 – (Federal)

{Title VII of Public Law 109-177}

Restricts the availability of products used to make it:PseudoephedrineEphedrine

Products must be stored “behind the counter” and purchases must be documented.

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Methamphetamine Production Prevention Act of 2007

Systemic state-wide means for law enforcement to capture the identity of purchasers, the date and time of purchase, and the identity and quantity of the product purchased from the retail

industry; to analyze the data; and to make it readily accessible to other retailers and police agencies

Illinois Legislation

M.M.C.R.S.C.A. and M.P.C.A In 2004 Lisa Madigan proposed the Methamphetamine

Manufacturing Chemical Retail Sale Control Act (MMCRSCA). Effective 2005, required retailers to place adult-strength cold

tablets with ephedrine or pseudoephedrine as their sole active ingredient behind store counters or in locked cases.

In 2006, in response to tougher restrictions within neighboring states, the Methamphetamine Precursor Control Act (M.P.C.A.), made all products containing PSE/EPH, C-V (control schedule 5) substances.

Manufacturer’s ResponsePfizer and McNeil

preemptively took steps to avoid angry customers and appease government.

Reformulation of Sudafed called Sudafed PE. “Un-Cookable “

Retail Implications

Results?Figures vary

Domestic labs are down Purity is upPrice is down

But Where is it Coming From?

Multi-state electronic PSE sales blocking system.

Accessible to any state that authorizes real-time, statewide electronic blocking of illegal PSE sales.

National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx)

This map include all meth incidents, including labs, "dumpsites" or "chemical and

glassware" seizures.

Questions?The End