Lethal Litter

[Tony Anders]

Taken from The Times Tribune
www.thetimestribune.com/local/local_story_143084821.html



Lethal litter

Sat, May 24 2008

— By Sean Bailey / Staff Writer
Mountain Dew bottles are a common sight during area clean-ups, and according to Carlos Cameron from UNITE, some of those bottles are more than nuisance litter — they can be deadly.
Cameron said Mountain Dew bottles are often used in manufacturing methamphetamine. Citizens who come across bottles with protruding plastic tubes should not handle them, according to Cameron.
"The stuff that is put in the bottles goes dormant, and when moved the reaction can start back up again. It could let off phosphine gas which is the same thing used in the death chamber. Coming into contact with the gas can either cause great harm or kill you," Cameron said.

[L Roebuck]

Good article Tony. During cave and karst clean ups we keep a watchful eye out for meth indicators.

Our state already has a 'meth check' program in place. We're reminded of it every time we purchase a box of Sudafed for allergies. The program might help to keep meth production lower but it also makes it hard on those of us who need the medication.

[Azurerana]

From Article: "According to Cameron, meth first popped up in California and over the years has spread through out the country. All of Kentucky’s meth problems can be traced back to one meth cook who came from Missouri."

And all of Missouri's moonshine industry came from one Kentucky immigrant. Oh, pul-leeze! This doesn't make any sense once you step back and examine the statement.

I'm curious why they are picking on Mountain Dew, though. There are other Pepsi products with similar plastic bottles, and other brands which are green (if the color is a factor, and I'm not sure it is.)

The interesting thing is: I grew up in the county and live in the next door one which are 1-2 in meth busts in Missouri. If this is such a rampant problem, how have I managed to go about my daily business in these working class neighborhoods for the last 40 years, and never run into either meth labs or stoners? IMO, all being 1-2 means is we've got some crackerjack police, whereas other places they are falling down on the job.

Also: these scare articles never tell you that the overwhelming majority of meth sold in the US comes from Mexico and overseas, sneaked across the borders, and is not manufactured here at all. For the children out there-- meth was being made in the US 45-50 years ago as cheap, illegal diet pills-- it's not the new thing that the police would have you believe.

I'm with Lynn on the Pseudafed-- new versons do not contain pseudoephinephine, and consequently do not work on some allegies. It's a hassle, because all the carding, tracking, etc., presumes you are guilty unless proven innocent.

I still think if we had decent jobs in rural areas where blue-collar people could earn a living wage, the meth and pot trades would be at least decimated, and we could put our law enforcement $$$ to better use.