DIY Illegal Drug Making - WHAT WERE THEY DOING??
November 24, 2014 1:15 AM Subscribe
My neighbors are being evicted after doing something dodgey that caused an explosion and involved (supposedly) a pressure cooker, and definitely a list of OTC pharmaceuticals, one ingredient was Baby Aspirin. I was told, anyway.
What were they making?
There were no smells (so hopefully not Meth !) but there was an explosion and scorch marks left behind. The only ingredient on the list tacked to the wall I was told about was "baby aspirin" but this is not totally totally for sure. But likely.
I'm worried about how toxic this "brew" is. I know other drugs besides meth can be "cooked" at home. A meth cooking set-up was not described, tho. I have no knowledge in this area. What other illegal drugs can be manufactured DIY?
This is a serious question. Thank you.
There were no smells (so hopefully not Meth !) but there was an explosion and scorch marks left behind. The only ingredient on the list tacked to the wall I was told about was "baby aspirin" but this is not totally totally for sure. But likely.
I'm worried about how toxic this "brew" is. I know other drugs besides meth can be "cooked" at home. A meth cooking set-up was not described, tho. I have no knowledge in this area. What other illegal drugs can be manufactured DIY?
This is a serious question. Thank you.
Are you sure it was a drug? Google suggests that salicylic acid or aspirin are ingredients in some homemade explosive recipes.
posted by Sequence at 1:43 AM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Sequence at 1:43 AM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
Pressure cookers can be used for sterilisation (they're basically home autoclaves), which as you can imagine is handy in lots of situations. For it to explode... well, I guess someone would have to disable the safety valve, and be trying to reach higher temperatures/pressures. No idea what might require that, though.
posted by Leon at 4:41 AM on November 24, 2014
posted by Leon at 4:41 AM on November 24, 2014
Baby Aspirin is 81mg versus regular aspirin which is 325mg. Baby Aspirin is now sold for heart health to crones like me. No one gives them to kids anymore, per Huffy Puffy's comment above. But the dosage is sold.
So yeah, why use that, when regular aspirin is so cheap.
Sounds like Meth to me, was anyone wearing a hazmat suit?
Call the cops and ask.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:15 AM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
So yeah, why use that, when regular aspirin is so cheap.
Sounds like Meth to me, was anyone wearing a hazmat suit?
Call the cops and ask.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:15 AM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
This sounds like straight up inflammatory neighbor gossip and not a real thing at all. I'm fairly sure it's easy to do real damage with an improperly used pressure cooker even if you're not trying to make drugs.
Either that, or they thought they were brewing up some concoction they heard would get you super high, but which is not actually a real thing. Druggies are dumb.
My third idea is that, yes, it was meth, but the person telling you baby aspirin was involved is misinformed and it was actually OTC meds more likely to be involved in making meth.
posted by Sara C. at 6:12 AM on November 24, 2014 [2 favorites]
Either that, or they thought they were brewing up some concoction they heard would get you super high, but which is not actually a real thing. Druggies are dumb.
My third idea is that, yes, it was meth, but the person telling you baby aspirin was involved is misinformed and it was actually OTC meds more likely to be involved in making meth.
posted by Sara C. at 6:12 AM on November 24, 2014 [2 favorites]
It was almost certainly meth. My ex sister-in-law was one of the twelve most wanted in her state [Iowa's Dirty Dozen]. The good news for you is that we found the components of a lab in the garage behind grandma's house, called the police, and they came, took a look, said "yup, thats a meth lab, throw it in the garbage". They were quite unconcerned. During manufacture meth is very volatile but once made it's a pretty stable compound. Meth is number one on my personal most hated drugs list but I think some of the fear of meth labs is manufatured FUD.
"What other illegal drugs can be manufactured DIY? "
All of them with decently skilled chemist.
I don't advocate drug use though I use alcohol and nicotine and have used other drugs in the past.
Erowid [I dont want to link it here] is an excellent resource.
posted by vapidave at 6:13 AM on November 24, 2014 [5 favorites]
"What other illegal drugs can be manufactured DIY? "
All of them with decently skilled chemist.
I don't advocate drug use though I use alcohol and nicotine and have used other drugs in the past.
Erowid [I dont want to link it here] is an excellent resource.
posted by vapidave at 6:13 AM on November 24, 2014 [5 favorites]
What other illegal drugs can be manufactured DIY?
There really aren't a lot of drugs you can just cook up in the kitchen, and most of them will be some version of speed (meth, regular old amphetamine, ecstasy, etc...), so my money would be on meth. Were the police called? If so, I would check with them. If not, I would ask the landlord some very pointed questions, like "why didn't you call the police? And What are you doing to make sure this place is safe to live in?"
posted by dortmunder at 6:15 AM on November 24, 2014
There really aren't a lot of drugs you can just cook up in the kitchen, and most of them will be some version of speed (meth, regular old amphetamine, ecstasy, etc...), so my money would be on meth. Were the police called? If so, I would check with them. If not, I would ask the landlord some very pointed questions, like "why didn't you call the police? And What are you doing to make sure this place is safe to live in?"
posted by dortmunder at 6:15 AM on November 24, 2014
Best answer: Meth remediation costs a few thousand dollars, so landlords and real estate agents have an incentive to not notice it or to call it anything else. I don't know if there are potential risks to you, but don't count on the landlord to tell you about it or to take the necessary steps.
The two ways people around here have been consistently blowing up their kitchens for some years now is of course meth, but also extracting hash oil -- the usual DIY approach uses butane, so you can imagine how easy it is to have an explosion.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:42 AM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
The two ways people around here have been consistently blowing up their kitchens for some years now is of course meth, but also extracting hash oil -- the usual DIY approach uses butane, so you can imagine how easy it is to have an explosion.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:42 AM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
The only ingredient on the list tacked to the wall I was told about was "baby aspirin" but this is not totally totally for sure. But likely.
You were told by whom?
For all you know, this was just their grocery list.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:20 AM on November 24, 2014 [4 favorites]
You were told by whom?
For all you know, this was just their grocery list.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:20 AM on November 24, 2014 [4 favorites]
A pressure cooker can also be used to make a still for home distillation of spirits (i.e. moonshine). High proof spirits are very flammable and a modified pressure cooker can easily explode simply from heat and pressure if you screw up the manufacture of your still.
Aside from meth, I would say this is definitely the most likely. In either case, the baby aspirin is almost certainly a red herring.
posted by 256 at 7:57 AM on November 24, 2014
Aside from meth, I would say this is definitely the most likely. In either case, the baby aspirin is almost certainly a red herring.
posted by 256 at 7:57 AM on November 24, 2014
Randall Munroe did this What-If on what pressure cookers are - and are not - capable of.
I assume your neighbors were not making dioxygen difluoride.
posted by lharmon at 8:42 AM on November 24, 2014
I assume your neighbors were not making dioxygen difluoride.
posted by lharmon at 8:42 AM on November 24, 2014
Best answer: Someone mentioned California -- can't tell if you're there or not, but if you are, CA has a meth lab disclosure law, as do a number of other states. In CA, if the police suspect there's been meth activity, they're required to contact the public health department (likely a county agency, unless the city is large enough to have its own). If the health department finds evidence of a meth lab, they're required to document it.
The rule is ostensibly because the presence of a meth lab must be disclosed during real estate transactions, but the fact that your hypothetical meth lab would be a matter of public record means you should be able to call the health department and ask them.
posted by mudpuppie at 8:46 AM on November 24, 2014
The rule is ostensibly because the presence of a meth lab must be disclosed during real estate transactions, but the fact that your hypothetical meth lab would be a matter of public record means you should be able to call the health department and ask them.
posted by mudpuppie at 8:46 AM on November 24, 2014
Baby Aspirin & pressure canners (basically a ginormous pressure cooker) are used in home canning. Though the baby aspirin method to acidify food is very old fashioned & not recommended now a days, people do still do it however.
OK it's most likely meth, but I thought I'd throw out another suggestion, because canning gone wrong with a pressure canner can make a lovely explosive mess.
posted by wwax at 9:32 AM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
OK it's most likely meth, but I thought I'd throw out another suggestion, because canning gone wrong with a pressure canner can make a lovely explosive mess.
posted by wwax at 9:32 AM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Just an update.
There was an explosion of some type in a back bedroom.
Everyone is correct that the OTC meds may not have been related to me accurately.
I live in West Hollywood. We have a meth problem. It's a nice building.
The two men involved are academic types. I was a little surprised, but, then again....
My landlord is one of the WORST humans I have ever met. I have no doubt they would try to cover this up to save money. Hence this question.
posted by jbenben at 9:44 AM on November 24, 2014
There was an explosion of some type in a back bedroom.
Everyone is correct that the OTC meds may not have been related to me accurately.
I live in West Hollywood. We have a meth problem. It's a nice building.
The two men involved are academic types. I was a little surprised, but, then again....
My landlord is one of the WORST humans I have ever met. I have no doubt they would try to cover this up to save money. Hence this question.
posted by jbenben at 9:44 AM on November 24, 2014
Response by poster: I had initial contact with the police on the night of the incident because they buzzed my apartment.
Fuck yeah I will follow up with them now. GREAT to know disclosure laws exist in CA.
We're dealing with imperfect people who have a lot of difficulty about the truth, so, thanks everyone for dispelling some of the rumours and such.
posted by jbenben at 9:47 AM on November 24, 2014
Fuck yeah I will follow up with them now. GREAT to know disclosure laws exist in CA.
We're dealing with imperfect people who have a lot of difficulty about the truth, so, thanks everyone for dispelling some of the rumours and such.
posted by jbenben at 9:47 AM on November 24, 2014
Response by poster: If you google "Meth Epidemic In West Hollywood" tons of articles come up, including many members of the city council talking about it. Starting this past summer, violence involving drugs started ramping up again in this part of town. It's a thing.
These guys are young professionals, and they smoked a lot of pot, but nope, none of the neighbors thought they were into harder drugs until they blew out a window in the back of their apartment.
THANK YOU FOR THE INFO ABOUT DISCLOSURE LAWS FOR CA!!
We were hoping we had some protections in this situation.
With different personalities involved, proper remediation would be implemented and there wouldn't be so many rumours.
I missed the explosion that night by about 10 minutes, but I did witness one of the neighbors involved running in through the security gate behind my car, barefoot, half naked, with a strange erratic gait. I almost called the police myself when this happened because he seemed like a cracked out homeless trespasser (we get those sometimes) but I recognized his face, and the guy always presented as super mild mannered... I sat in my car stunned for about 5 minutes unsure of what to do. Then they police rang through the intercom on my phone, and that sorta solved the dilemma for me. Someone from the street saw the explosion and called 911.
We do know these tenants are moving out. We do not know how long they'd been cooking drugs in their apartment, IF they were really cooking drugs (seems likely,) or who to contact for straight answers about how big a health hazzard this might present since our landlord/management is less than honest on most things.
The building was nice before these folks bought it. Neighbors are mostly stellar. The business practices of this particular owner/management is usually on the borderline (or slightly over) whatever is lawful in a particular situation.
Just trying to get info. Thank you.
posted by jbenben at 12:14 PM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
These guys are young professionals, and they smoked a lot of pot, but nope, none of the neighbors thought they were into harder drugs until they blew out a window in the back of their apartment.
THANK YOU FOR THE INFO ABOUT DISCLOSURE LAWS FOR CA!!
We were hoping we had some protections in this situation.
With different personalities involved, proper remediation would be implemented and there wouldn't be so many rumours.
I missed the explosion that night by about 10 minutes, but I did witness one of the neighbors involved running in through the security gate behind my car, barefoot, half naked, with a strange erratic gait. I almost called the police myself when this happened because he seemed like a cracked out homeless trespasser (we get those sometimes) but I recognized his face, and the guy always presented as super mild mannered... I sat in my car stunned for about 5 minutes unsure of what to do. Then they police rang through the intercom on my phone, and that sorta solved the dilemma for me. Someone from the street saw the explosion and called 911.
We do know these tenants are moving out. We do not know how long they'd been cooking drugs in their apartment, IF they were really cooking drugs (seems likely,) or who to contact for straight answers about how big a health hazzard this might present since our landlord/management is less than honest on most things.
The building was nice before these folks bought it. Neighbors are mostly stellar. The business practices of this particular owner/management is usually on the borderline (or slightly over) whatever is lawful in a particular situation.
Just trying to get info. Thank you.
posted by jbenben at 12:14 PM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
I missed the explosion that night by about 10 minutes, but I did witness one of the neighbors involved running in through the security gate behind my car, barefoot, half naked, with a strange erratic gait.
This could have been because he just narrowly escaped an explosion and was running for his life without stopping to grab clothes, not because he was on drugs. I'm not saying he WASN'T on drugs, but you don't know if this explosion was actually drug-related. You think you do, but you don't.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:25 PM on November 24, 2014 [3 favorites]
This could have been because he just narrowly escaped an explosion and was running for his life without stopping to grab clothes, not because he was on drugs. I'm not saying he WASN'T on drugs, but you don't know if this explosion was actually drug-related. You think you do, but you don't.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:25 PM on November 24, 2014 [3 favorites]
Crack is a common "cooked in the kitchen" drug. PCP is another one, especially in CA.
posted by atinna at 12:34 PM on November 24, 2014
posted by atinna at 12:34 PM on November 24, 2014
FWIW a friend of mine was once evicted after a scene like this that was caused by him falling asleep with candles burning and starting a fire. Just because a scene was caused, there was an explosive mishap, damage, etc. doesn't mean anything salacious went on, even if eviction was the result.
posted by Sara C. at 12:56 PM on November 24, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Sara C. at 12:56 PM on November 24, 2014 [2 favorites]
You can definitely blow up a pressure cooker just cooking food in it. I know lots of people who have (mostly men now that I think about it). So maybe it was just an accident.
posted by fshgrl at 1:30 PM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by fshgrl at 1:30 PM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: We completely appreciate further info regarding disclosure laws and similar.
Thank you!
posted by jbenben at 1:30 PM on November 24, 2014
Thank you!
posted by jbenben at 1:30 PM on November 24, 2014
Response by poster: Oops. Just to clarify...
The owner directly told me, in person, that drugs were involved. They originally wanted me to give a statement to detectives. Otherwise, I don't think this info would have been volunteered.
Certain procedures seem absent given the circumstances.
Insights into tenants rights and procedures for the state of California are very helpful. Ditto personal experience with this scenario in LA.
Thank you!
posted by jbenben at 1:39 PM on November 24, 2014
The owner directly told me, in person, that drugs were involved. They originally wanted me to give a statement to detectives. Otherwise, I don't think this info would have been volunteered.
Certain procedures seem absent given the circumstances.
Insights into tenants rights and procedures for the state of California are very helpful. Ditto personal experience with this scenario in LA.
Thank you!
posted by jbenben at 1:39 PM on November 24, 2014
Huh. We live less than half a mile apart, I had no idea.
If you're concerned about health effects I wouldn't worry about it. If you were actually roommates then maybe it'd be something to be concerned about but the concentrations and toxicity we're talking about here aren't likely at all to be a problem at any sort of distance and through walls and stuff. Besides, we live in a toxic soup of bad air already. And we're breathing that stuff in 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
If your concern is crime in general, as far as I'm aware there have been 2 homicides in all of West Hollywood in the last year or so and they were both domestic disputes. It's true that is an increase from the zero homicides the year before and the 1 the year before that but that's only because the absolute numbers are so low. The crime rate in West Hollywood overall is falling, not increasing as you think. At least as of the end of 2013.
posted by Justinian at 3:04 PM on November 24, 2014
If you're concerned about health effects I wouldn't worry about it. If you were actually roommates then maybe it'd be something to be concerned about but the concentrations and toxicity we're talking about here aren't likely at all to be a problem at any sort of distance and through walls and stuff. Besides, we live in a toxic soup of bad air already. And we're breathing that stuff in 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
If your concern is crime in general, as far as I'm aware there have been 2 homicides in all of West Hollywood in the last year or so and they were both domestic disputes. It's true that is an increase from the zero homicides the year before and the 1 the year before that but that's only because the absolute numbers are so low. The crime rate in West Hollywood overall is falling, not increasing as you think. At least as of the end of 2013.
posted by Justinian at 3:04 PM on November 24, 2014
Crack is a common "cooked in the kitchen" drug.
This is true, but the process requires having cocaine first. I mean, I don't know a lot about the process of extracting cocaine from coca leaves, but let's assume they weren't doing that because it would be really silly to import coca leaves instead of cocaine.
Cooking crack from cocaine is completely harmless (provided you don't ingest the crack in any way). There's basically no way to cause an explosion while cooking crack other than accidentally leaving your explosives next to the stove while you cook.
posted by 256 at 3:22 PM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
This is true, but the process requires having cocaine first. I mean, I don't know a lot about the process of extracting cocaine from coca leaves, but let's assume they weren't doing that because it would be really silly to import coca leaves instead of cocaine.
Cooking crack from cocaine is completely harmless (provided you don't ingest the crack in any way). There's basically no way to cause an explosion while cooking crack other than accidentally leaving your explosives next to the stove while you cook.
posted by 256 at 3:22 PM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
My mother had some bad steam burns to her face when her pressure cooker exploded back in the 70s. It was a good pressure cooker, Presto, steel. I've had two just like that one and had no trouble with either of them, but if the seal is defective or if the little air vent seal on top is stuck and won't open, I guess that's what can make them explode.
Hope everything comes out okay.
posted by aryma at 4:38 PM on November 24, 2014
Hope everything comes out okay.
posted by aryma at 4:38 PM on November 24, 2014
Response by poster: "...... but also extracting hash oil -- the usual DIY approach uses butane, so you can imagine how easy it is to have an explosion."
They're stoners. I bet (hope?) this was the dumb thing they were doing.
Thanks everyone so much.
posted by jbenben at 5:20 PM on November 24, 2014
They're stoners. I bet (hope?) this was the dumb thing they were doing.
Thanks everyone so much.
posted by jbenben at 5:20 PM on November 24, 2014
Best answer: Coming to this one late, but hash oil was my first thought too: a big hash-oil explosion recently local to us.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 10:42 PM on November 29, 2014
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 10:42 PM on November 29, 2014
Response by poster: UPDATE
They moved out on the date they agreed to. There were no formal court proceedings of any kind. I'm pretty sure the situation involved Hash Oil. The landlord was def holding something big over their heads to force them out - one of them was a law student.
Thank you to everyone that gave factual answers and did not second guess how serious this was.
posted by jbenben at 9:19 PM on December 24, 2014
They moved out on the date they agreed to. There were no formal court proceedings of any kind. I'm pretty sure the situation involved Hash Oil. The landlord was def holding something big over their heads to force them out - one of them was a law student.
Thank you to everyone that gave factual answers and did not second guess how serious this was.
posted by jbenben at 9:19 PM on December 24, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
I've lived near, and heard of more than several times a landlord outright lying about meth cooking going on because they didn't want to deal with kicking people out and massively rehabbing the building as necessary. In fact, the last time i lived near a place it was eventually figured out by direct neighbors or one of the other previous tenants or something, reported, and the place was condemned. You can see why they'd want to avoid this and lie their way out of it.
Is this in the same building as you? If so, I'd call the local police non emergency number and explain your situation, and ask for more detail about what was going on because you think they're not disclosing potential or actual hazards.
posted by emptythought at 1:40 AM on November 24, 2014 [2 favorites]