Methamphetamine: DEA to Create National Lab Site Registry

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced in a press release last week that it will post the locations of known clandestine meth labs or dump sites across the country. The free public service will help people be aware of possible meth-contaminated sites in their communities, the agency said.

While a handful of states have adopted meth registries, the move by the DEA marks the first national listing of former meth lab sites. The web site will contain addresses reported by state and local law enforcement where chemicals or other items related to meth production were found or dumped. The DEA warns that the list "may not be comprehensive."

"In a cruel twist of fate, people who have never used or manufactured meth have become some of its hardest hit victims after unknowingly buying property contaminated by chemicals and waste generated from a meth lab," said DEA Administrator Karen Tandy. "This registry gives home owners a new tool to help them ensure that their dream house is not a hidden nightmare."

[Ed: It's not a "cruel twist of fate," it's a cruel but predictable consequence of drug prohibition."]