What is Methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine is a man-made, Schedule II stimulant that is commonly known on the streets as "speed" and "meth"; in its smoked form, methamphetamine is known as "ice", "crystal", "crank", and "glass". The bulk of methamphetamine currently on the streets has been illegally manufactured. The chemicals used in the manufacturing process can be corrosive, explosive, flammable, toxic, and, possibly, radioactive; for every pound of finished product, five to six pounds of chemical waste is left at an illicit lab site. Environmental risks are present not only with former methamphetamine production sites but also with its usage. The use of methamphetamine in a home results in elevated exposures to the occupants via airborne migration. When methamphetamine is smoked, between 50-80% of the substance is released from the user's pipe. Of the material that is inhaled, between 10-33% of the nominal dose is not absorbed into the body, but rather, exhaled back into the ambient air, where the residue can settle on a myriad of surfaces; the methamphetamine residue can persist for months in rooms and buildings.