Shake and Bake Meth

The shake and bake meth process is designed to make the manufacturing of methamphetamine quicker and less detectable by law enforcement. If you’ve ever watched the movie Talladega Nights, you may have heard of Will Ferrell’s character, Ricky Bobby, using the term “shake and bake” with his best friend in the movie as their catchphrase. While the saying was meant to be funny in the semi-raunchy movie, the shake ‘n bake meth process is anything but laughable.

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive and dangerous drug. This article is not meant to act as a guide on how to make it, but rather a warning against a particular method and how to spot the signs of meth use in your neighborhood. If you or a loved one is addicted to meth, seek meth addiction treatment immediately.

What is The Shake and Bake Process?

The shake and bake process includes placing the usual ingredients of meth inside a two-liter soda bottle (minus the soda), shaking the bottle to mix them up, then letting it sit or “bake” for a certain amount of time. Once it’s done “baking,” the result is a small amount of meth at the bottom of the bottle. Even though the shake and bake method produces much less meth than the average meth lab, it’s still popular among manufacturers and users, whether for a quick high or to avoid legal detection.

Some common ingredients used in the shake and bake process include:

• Pseudoephedrine tablets
• Solvent
• Lithium
• Sodium hydroxide
• Ammonium nitrate
• Ephedrine
• Water
• Acetone
• Hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid
• Lye
• Phosphorous
• Toluene

Unfortunately, the shake and bake process is very mobile, considering that the main tool is a two-liter soda bottle. This means that it can go nearly anywhere and be done anywhere. For this reason, and also because the “tools” used in this process are quite ordinary, authorities struggle to keep this method under control. It’s not only the mobility of this process but also the speed at which meth is made that makes shake and bake enticing. However, despite the simplicity of this process compared to the original way of making meth, shake and bake is still highly dangerous.

Side Effects of Shake And Bake

Explosions

Despite reduced steps, the shake and bake method is no safer than making meth in the usual meth labs. If the bottle is shaken the wrong way, the cap is loosened too quickly, or if any oxygen gets inside of the bottle, it can explode. Exposure to water or moisture can also cause a fire. In the usual meth lab, “cooks” could run away from explosions, whereas shake and bake “cooks” are holding the bottles in their hands, increasing the risk of serious burns, explosions, and death.

Toxic Waste

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has also pointed out that in addition to the increased rate of meth manufacturing and distribution, as well as an increase in related fires, this process also generates a lot of toxic waste. Specifically, the DEA found that 1 pound of meth equates to 5 to 6 pounds of toxic waste. This includes loads of plastic two-liter bottles, empty boxes of over-the-counter medications, bottles of salt, plastic pill bottles, and more. Many meth manufacturers also dump this toxic waste into nearby streams where the wildlife and also the people who swim and fish there can be harmed.

...

Want to learn more about the dangers of this method or the signs your neighbor is making drugs? Visit Clearbrook here to read the rest of the blog. We also offer various addiction services to help people who are addicted to drugs like meth regain their health and sobriety.