New kind of meth finds its way to Iowa

Published 9:40 am Tuesday, September 22, 2009

A new formula for methamphetamine using a two-liter bottle, cold pills and some common household chemicals has made its way to Iowa.

State drug authorities say they’ve seen signs that so-called “shake-and-bake” meth is being produced in Iowa. The method produces small amounts of the addictive drug with only a relatively small number of pills of the decongestant pseudoephedrine — an amount easily obtained under even the toughest anti-meth laws.

The pills are crushed, combined with some common household chemicals and then shaken in the soda bottle. No flame is required — but it can produce powerful explosions and fires.

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Iowa drug czar Gary Kendell said the method has shown up in Muscatine and Webster counties. Authorities have found empty plastic bottles lined with the toxic byproduct along some roads.