TB 180 Drug Labs: Recognition and Hazards Flashcards
An illegal narcotic laboratory or production house is also frequently referred to as a _____, or “clan lab.”
clandestine drug laboratory
Clandestine drug labs generally cause three main types of harm:
(1) physical injury from explosion, fire, chemical burns, and toxic fumes
(2) environmental hazards
(3) child endangerment.
“Clan lab” chemists can produce a wide array of substances including, _____, _____, hallucinogens such as LSD or PCP, or club drugs (MDMA or GHB).
methamphetamines / heroin and synthetic opiates
They can also extract the THC from marijuana producing ____ and waxes.
“honey” oils
These clandestine chemists are also known to be ____ into pills and other consumables.
mixing pure fentanyl
Not only are these homemade drugs dangerous, but the labs that produce them can be located in any ____ and pose serious health and safety threats to the public.
neighborhood
Toxic chemicals, explosions, fires, booby traps, and armed criminals can pose a risk for the people who ___ onto the labs.
inadvertently stumble
Common indicators of an illicit drug laboratory:
Uninhabited structures and presence of toxic fumes or excessive amounts of trash, particularly chemical containers.
Robust security systems including video surveillance.
Common indicators of an illicit drug laboratory:
Doors and windows are concealed, blackened out, or covered with aluminum foil.
Large ventilation fans for fume dispersal, odor removal, and cooling processes.
Common indicators of an illicit drug laboratory:
Presence of 55-gallon steel drums.
Delivery of large amounts of ice or cooling agents.
Common indicators of an illicit drug laboratory:
Strong distinct odor of ether or other volatile fuels/solvents.
Illegal electrical wiring or the presence of large generators for power needs.
Heroin (diacetylmorphine) is produced from the ____ by a chemical process known as ____.
opium poppy / acetylation
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) the four major source areas include ______.
Mexico, South America, Southwest Asia, and Southeast Asia
Heroin is not produced in the US, but is commonly “milled” (wholesale quantities broken down and packaged into mid-level and retail quantities). This is usually done in ___ and apartments.
private homes
A recent _____ trend is the production and use of fentanyl.
synthetic opiate
Illicit fentanyl production requires ___ material.
no plant
Since fentanyl is a ____ made from various chemicals, laboratory scientists have the ability to interchange many different chemical compounds.
synthetic drug
These substances are reported to be ______ more potent than morphine.
50 to 100 times
However, one of the most potent fentanyl analogues known as _____ has a potency of ____ that of morphine.
CARFENTANIL / 10,000 times
If the presence of fentanyl is suspected, members must take protective measures: considering the “_______” principles.
Time, Distance, and Shielding
At a minimum, ____, avoid actions which could cause powders to become airborne, use a properly fitted ____ and ____, and minimize any potential skin contact.
wear gloves / NIOSH respirator mask / eye protection
Illicitly-produced fentanyl is increasingly available in the form of ____.
counterfeit prescription pills
Fentanyl traffickers use fentanyl powder and pill presses to produce pills that resemble popular prescription opioids, such as _____ and _____.
oxycodone / hydrocodone
According to the DEA: “clandestine fentanyl pill pressing operations will likely increase throughout the United States…counterfeit fentanyl-containing pills will continue to be associated with clusters of overdoses and deaths due to ____ and often ______.”
inconsistent mixing / \ unexpectedly high potency
