The illegal manufacture and use of Methamphetamine (Meth) in the United States is a serious public health concern. Meth can be produced in small clandestine laboratories with equipment and ingredients that are relatively inexpensive and easily accessible. Production in this manner poses numerous public health risks to the cooks themselves, others that live in close proximity to the lab, law enforcement and first responders that respond to the scene, and healthcare professionals that provide any necessary treatment.

The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) has partnered with the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) under a cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to develop an educational toolkit for health educators, which can be used to raise awareness of the dangers of Meth in local communities.

This free Clandestine Meth Lab Toolkit contains two parts geared toward a variety of health care professionals. Part A provides an introductory primer on Meth use and production, information sheets geared toward specific sub-groups of the community that face different risks and concerns, a community action guide, and a resource directory for additional information on various topics related to meth production and use. The second section, Part B, is geared more towards the clinical audience as developed by ACMT and includes sections on the toxicological effects of common chemicals used in the cooking process and more.

A limited number of cd-rom versions of the toolkit are available at the National SOPHE office. If you are interested in receiving this resource on cd-rom contact info@sophe.org.