Shake and Bake: Not Just for Chicken Anymore - Dangers of Meth & Disclosures

More and more I see the topic of various disclosures come up in venues like Facebook groups, real estate magazines, and even in real estate classes I attend. One of the latest "what's hot, what's not" disclosures in the real estate industry is regarding Methamphetamine or more the more popular term Crystal Meth or just Meth (all three terms refer to the same drug as do a host of other street names). This post is a public service announcement to inform and not to cause alarm. Meth is a very addictive and dangerous drug that you will see can turn up anywhere. I share this knowledge coming from my experience as a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia and out of a concern that others may not really understand what they may run across. 

 

What is Meth?

Crystal Meth is a drug that can be manufactured anywhere the chemicals needed to make it can be found. All of the ingredients can be picked up at your local department store that has a pharmacy. Individually many of the chemicals uses to create meth are dangerous, mixed together, they can be down right deadly, and not just for the people that ingest meth. When Myth is "cooked" a very volitle and exothermic (gives off heat) reaction occurs betweent the the different elements. When this chemical reaction is started it continues until all the elements have reacted and cannot be shut down easily.

 

What's a Meth Lab Look Like?

When you think of a meth lab you probably have an image of jugs of chemicals, test tubes, some sort of burner, etc. set up in some room or garden shed, sort of like the picture to the right. You've heard they are very dangerous places to be, but never thought you would run into a lab like this in the neigborhoods you frequent. And if you did happen to come across a meth lab you would know it right away, or maybe not.

 

A few years ago I was at a drug conference where a State Police Officer was sharing about a newer form of meth lab, something they had only heard about just a few days before coming across the first instance of this type of method of making meth. Let me introduce you to this newer, more portable methods of cooking meth (pictured to the left). Yes, those are soda bottles with an active cook in process. Sometimes people use glass jars like mason jars, other times they use sports drink bottles.

 

This method is commonly referred to as "shake and bake" but it is far more dangerous than the coating for chicken. This method for making meth is becoming more common partly beause of the portability and ease that it can be hidden in cabinets or closets rather than taking a full room like the old labs. Another reason it is more common is because the gasses from the chemical reaction that is used to make meth have to be released from time to time and since this can be sitting on a counter or in a cabinet it is easily accessible so those making the meth don't have to camp out in the shed, they can now watch TV in the comfort of their living room while cooking their meth. 

 

DON'T Shake it Like a Polaroid Picture!

To get a better understanding of why one should not shake bottles suspected of being a meth cook watch this video from the Tulsa Police Department:

Thankfully the officers were in protective gear. The reason this is so volatile is because you have a mixture of flammable liquids mixed with a series of small explosions which can easily eat through the plastic bottle and then get exposed to oxygen - a great fuel for fire.

 

So What Should I Do?

If you happen upon something that doesn't look quite treat it as if you have come across a ticking time bomb, because in many ways you have. Leave everything as you found it, leave any doors open (cabinet doors, house doors, etc.), and exit the area as quickly as possible. Don't wait to take out your camera, just take a mental snapshot and leave the area without haste. Don't turn on or off any lights, just leave. Once you are in a safe place well away from the property call the local police and tell them what you suspect you have come across. Let the police handle the situation and provide them the best description of what you saw and where it is located so they can determine if it is a dangerous situation and come up with an appropriate response. It's very likely the next person to go in the property will be a little green man.

 

When it comes to disclosing this I refer you to your local laws and a very good real estate attorney. Meth and the residual waste is extremely dangerous and addictive. It is a drug that is easily made virtually anywhere (some people even make it in their car as they drive around). And the remediation for a meth lab can cost thousands of dollars.

As a Licensed Real Estate Agent in Virginia and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia I strive to help others achieve their goals in life, whether it's selling or buying a property or becoming the person they were meant to be. My background includes a degree in Architecture from Virginia Tech and a Master of Rehabilitation Counseling from VCU, managing residential properties, graphic design, corporate information technology, and being a third generation Realtor®. My goal is to always provide my clients with 5 STAR service.

RE/MAX Commonwealth 9464 Chamberlayne Road, Suite 200 Mechanicsville, VA 23116 804-767-5710 www.MichaelHottman.com

Information contained in this blog post is reliable on the date of publication, but it is subject to change without notice. found in Real Estate Blogs Directory - a directory of real estate blogs and blogs of industries affiliated with and serving the real estate industry.