"Meth labs have virtually dried up in our state": Impact and policy perspectives from state key informants

Public health research indicates that the production of methamphetamine in small toxic labs (STLs) has major health and safety consequences. In response to these consequences, more than 30 states have recently developed methamphetamine precursor laws to restrict access to chemicals used in methamphetamine production such as pseudo-ephedrine (found in many cold medicines) and anhydrous ammonia (used as a farm fertilizer). This presentation reports findings from individual and focus group interviews with approximately 50 key informants in five states (Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Oregon) during fall 2006 and winter 2007. Using a constant comparative analytic method, researchers first conducted open coding to identify preliminary themes and key word categories, then utilized axial coding to relate categories to subcategories within and across key informant interviews. Findings focus on perceptions of how/if the precursor laws affected methamphetamine lab seizures, methamphetamine use, and consequences of use from state legislators, law enforcement, and pharmacist perspectives. Key interview themes included: 1) perceived nature of the extent of STL production, 2) perceived health and safety problems resulting from STL methamphetamine production; 3) perceived effectiveness of methamphetamine precursor laws including penalties, product placement, and sales restrictions; 4) barriers to implementation of precursor laws including enforcement mechanisms, record keeping etc.; 5) practice and policy lessons learned during implementation; and, 6) recommendations for policy changes in these types of laws. This research is part of a larger study to evaluate the relationship between state methamphetamine precursor policies and STL seizures and other associated harms.