Methamphetamine, a powerfully addictive stimulant, can be easily manufactured in make-shift laboratories with chemicals that are readily available. Many of the chemicals used in methamphetamine laboratories are often corrosive, explosive, flammable, and toxic, and when mishandled, can cause emergency events such as fires, explosions, and toxic vapors. The substances released during methamphetamine-associated emergency events can cause serious injuries and death, not only to the manufacturers, but to unsuspecting groups, such as the general public and first responders. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) maintains the Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system, with the cooperation of 16 participating states, to collect and analyze data on the morbidity and mortality associated with acute, hazardous- substance-release events. Within the last five years, HSEES has begun capturing emergency release events associated with illicit methamphetamine laboratories. A seven-fold increase occurred in the number of methamphetamine-associated events reported to HSEES, from 8 reported in 1996 to 56 in 1999. During this period, 112 events were reported, resulting in injury to 155 persons. Of these, 79 (51.0%) were first responders, 65 (41.9%) were from the general public, and 11 (7.1%) were employees. Among the 155 persons injured, 223 injuries were reported. The most frequent injury was respiratory irritation, followed by thermal burns. The number of methamphetamine-related events is expected to increase as data for the year 2000 are analyzed. This session will present case reports of events and review strategies that local, state, and federal agencies are implementing to combat this growing problem.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to: 1. Discuss why illicit methamphetamine laboratories are rapidly becoming an emerging public health threat, 2. Identify which population groups are most frequently injured and list the types of injuries occurring, and 3. Describe some interventions and prevention activities being taken to address such events.
Keywords: Environmental Health Hazards, Drugs
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.