A Personal Experience with Neighbors Who Were Busted for Crystal Meth: How I Learned to Recognize Meth Labs and Meth Users

The Police Brief gave the name of the two adult occupants and said that they had been arrested for methamphetamine.

After that, I began researching more about meth and meth labs. I had been experiencing a lot of headaches and respiratory problems. I don’t doubt that it was related to the meth lab two doors down who had been dumbing their chemical refuse in the bushes in front of my house. It was these chemicals that killed the cats who like to take refuge in those bushes.

After the couple had been arrested they had the audacity to come into my store telling some outrageous story about bat guano and the ammonia smell. They were trying to blame another neighbor’s bat houses for the bad chemical smells. Those terrible smells were probably what alerted those of my neighbors who were in the know about meth, who then called law enforcement. I can only imagine that these two tweakers (meth users are called “tweakers” because they stay awake and paranoid for two weeks at a time) were doing damage control since it was obvious that they had been dumping dangerous, toxic chemicals in front of my house. I was disturbed that they knew who I was! …Or where to find me.

I can only hope that that couple spent a serious amount of time behind bars where they belong.

But, it is an unfortunate fact that most meth labs go undetected.

While the War on Drugs has been a hopeless failure, if not a ruse, that should be stopped immediately as it has damaged so many innocent lives, methamphetamine production is another story altogether. This drug is not as harmless as marijuana, which is not even in the same class of substance. It is not even as benign as cocaine or heroin.

I have learned a lot about meth from talking to people who have used it and to people who sadly had a child or other relative who became involved with the drug. The first thing that makes meth different is that its production is very dangerous. It produces toxic fumes that can injure anyone anywhere near the meth house.

But, the other danger of meth is the way it makes its users behave. Methamphetamines make people very violent – meth users should be approached only with caution. The drug is associated with all kinds of bizarre sexual behavior. Other characteristics of meth users is the torture of small animals. They are inclined to thievery.

These people are more than just bad or annoying neighbors. They are dangerous. If you unfortunate, as I have been, to have such neighbors and recognize a meth lab, it is not a bad idea to notify your local law enforcement agencies. Don’t expect immediate results, though. It takes a long time for law enforcement to close in on a suspected meth lab. But, it is a step in the right direction.

If your suspected meth lab producers are renters, you should document activity at the house and report it to the owner of the property. I suggest you do this in writing and include any documention you have. Most likely, the owner of the property has no idea that a meth lab is being run on his property. It will be in his best interest to take action against his tenants as quickly as possible. This may be the quickest route to putting and end to the problem.

But, prepare for retaliation if you report them to law enforcement or to their landlord. Meth dealers are dangerous, unpredictable people.

Meth lab neighbors are an unfortunate fact of life all too often, even if you live in a nice neighborhood or a peaceful rural area. Learn to recognize a meth lab. Protect your property, yourself and your loved ones.