Methamphetamine: Do You Know What's "Cooking" In Your Neighborhood? Many people think Drug Abuse is a victimless crime. Methamphetamine is a drug that effects us all in many ways, crossing all social and economic boundaries. It's in your neighborhood, you just may not know it.

Legislation
Recent Arrests
What to Look For in Your Neighborhood
What We Need to Do
CBI Records Check

There are three House Bills up for vote 03-1004, 03-1011, and 03-1115. House Bill 03-1169 has just been passed. To read each of the bills check out the Legislation page.

Recent Arrests

For information on recent arrests, and locations see our Press Releases Page.

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What to Look For in Your Neighborhood

Signs of a Meth Lab

The signs of a drug lab are not as evident as they were 20 years ago. But, armed with information and keen awareness, citizens can and should - play a significant role in the battle to counteract the rise in meth labs. The small "box" labs are portable and can be stored in any apartment, home or business. Signs that there may be a meth lab in your neighborhood include: unusual amounts of glass containers, jars or cookware being brought in or thrown away; cat litter bags or other non-opaque bags with duct tape around them being thrown out; people smoking outside the home, especially at night; unusual strong odors like paint, ether, ammonia, alcohol or acetone; excessive trash, including large amounts of items such as antifreeze containers, fuel cans, batteries, drain cleaner, large quantities of cold medication, red-stained coffee filters, or duct tape; and efforts to camouflage or conceal windows. Finally, cooks are often contaminated with iodine and have yellow residue on their clothing or skin.

The Drug Enforcement Agency finds that cooks install booby-traps or defensive fortification systems on their property in 15 percent of the discovered meth labs. Explosive devices as well as mechanical and electrical devices have been installed on boundaries of properties, at gates or entry doors to warn when the property has been entered. These devices not only can injure law enforcement responding to a meth lab but also injure the innocent neighbor who visits the property. Exerpt from NMTF Article: WASTED Toxins from Meth Labs Endanger Communities.

Meth Manufacturers Use Propane Tanks Do you give a second thought to picking up a propane tank at the local exchange? Well, you should. One of the products that can be used to make Methamphetamine is Anhydrous Ammonia. The drug manufacturers who steal this chemical put it in regular propane tanks. These tanks were not meant to be used for this purpose. The ammonia corrodes the valves and when the tanks are no longer safe, the drug makers may put them in a propane tank exchange and pick up a new one. What should you look for if you do exchange tanks? Look for any blue coloring around the valve. If you find one, do not, under any circumstance touch or move it!  Report it to your local authorities.

• See the Get Educated Section
• Recognizing Clandestine Meth Labs

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What We Need To Do

• Develop Environmental Standards.
• Develop Cleanup Standards and certify cleanup/decontamination companies.
• Establish a Drug Endangered Children (DEC) program in Colorado
• Work with retailers:
       Know your customers for specialty items like, idodine crystals
       Restrict sales of large quantities of chemicals and products with Ephedrine or Psuedoephedrine
       Restrict online sales of products with Ephedrine or Psuedoephedrine
• Continue to enact laws that will help agencies stop the spread of these clandestine labs
• Get involved in your neighborhood and community
• Vote! Get to know your legislators and judges

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Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Records Check

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation now has Criminal Records online. The fee to lookup an individual is $5.50 and they take Master Card or Visa. To use this service click here.

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