What Can I Do If I Suspect Someone Of Making Methamphetamines?

Vickie J: What do I do if I think someone in my apartment building is making meth? I don’t want to falsely accuse anyone, but there is often a strong smell of acetone in our hallways.

JW: Vickie, Methamphetamine abuse is a major challenge for the entire country. It’s a very dangerous drug that can be made from common store-purchased chemicals. Aside from the debilitating dangers of using this poison, labs where it can be produced can be set up virtually anywhere—inside of a home, a motel, even inside of a car. This means that the drug suppliers are risking the safety of anyone even remotely near these volatile labs. If you suspect that someone is making meth in your apartment building, that means lives could literally be in danger – including yours – so it’s very important to find out as soon as possible and to help law enforcement stop it immediately.

A strong chemical odor is definitely an indicator of illegal activity. So is suspicious behavior like blacked out windows, and lots of traffic in and out of the apartment. Stains on their walls and excessive amounts of trash containing a lot of fuel containers are possible indicators as well. For your own safety, never root around their trash to try to identify the contents. If your neighbors are producing meth, there are many very dangerous chemicals involved that could be harmful to touch or inhale. Finally, don’t take any chances in confronting your neighbor yourself; contact your local police department. Your own safety is the most important thing to consider.