The Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office works
in conjunction with the Michigan Department of
Community Health to locally implement the
Michigan Meth Watch program, a collaborative
initiative that began in 1997 to reduce
methamphetamine lab activity by making the theft
or purchase of precursor products (or the
ingredients used to make meth) more difficult.
Meth is an addictive drug that is frequently made in
illegal "labs" that are often set up in homes,
garages, and even wooded areas. Its manufacture
gives off an odor similar to nail polish remover
or cat urine. Other possible signs of a lab are
large amounts of cold medication, drain cleaner,
lantern fuel, coffee filters, batteries and/or
antifreeze. As a result of meth
production, these labs leave behind a great deal
of toxic waste. For each pound of
methamphetamine produced, five to six pounds of
toxic waste is created. This waste poses long
term hazards and can be present in soil and
groundwater for years. |
