Clandestine Synthesis of Methamphetamine: An Overview

JFS Forensic Lab Talks Seminar

Methamphetamine is a stimulant that is often manufactured in clandestine drug laboratories. This presentation will review methamphetamine and it pharmacological and physical properties, including both the D- form stereoisomer that is a stimulant and the L-form stereoisomer that is a decongestant. Methamphetamine is produced in illicit laboratories using two major processes, the reductive amination of phenyl-2-propanone (P-2-P) and the reduction of pseudoephedrine. Within each major process there are multiple routes of manufacture. The precursors, reagents, by-products and processes that use equipment that are associated with each route of manufacture will be described, along with their impact on current signature profiling efforts. Trends in manufacture as legislation and resources have changed will be discussed.