D-Methamphetamine (d-desoxyephedrine, desoxyn^®, methedrine^®) is a synthetic chemical derivative of amphetamine. It was first prepared early in the last century. The d – form of methamphetamine has been used in the treatment of exogenous obesity and in a few instances of attention deficit disorder (ADD) with hyperactivity factors. d-methamphetamine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant whereas the l- form (l-deoxyephedrine, an ingredient of Vicks Inhaler^®) has much weaker central nervous stimulation action and greater peripheral sympathomimetic activity. This latter form has been employed for many years as a nasal decongestant in non-prescriptive inhalers.

D-Methamphetamine has received a considerable amount of attention as a drug of abuse in recent years. It is available by prescription as conventional tablets of 2.5 – 5 mg and prolonged – release tablets of 5 – 15 mg for oral use. Illicit forms of methamphetamine are easily synthesized by “Meth Cooks” from phenyl acetone and n-methylforamide (dl-mixtures are produced). However, if ephedrine or pseudoephedrine are mixed with red phosphorus / hydroiodic acid the d-form will be the major product. This form will in many cases closely resemble pharmaceutical grade product. There are also other methods available to make D-Methamphetamine. Methamphetamine is commonly available on the street and is called “uppers”, “pep pills”, “crank”, "speed", "meth", "chalk", "ice", "crystal", and "glass" to name a few examples. When ingested methamphetamine undergoes metabolism. It forms amphetamine (4-7%) which is a major active product. In acidic urine as much as 7% will show up as amphetamine and about 76% will be excreted as unchanged methamphetamine. Methamphetamine has a relatively long half-life and will show up in urine specimens 24-48 hrs. after use. However, 60-72 hrs. is not uncommon.

Methamphetamine in elavated or over dosage situations results in hallucinations, anxiety, confusion, restlessness, cardiac arrhythmias, hyperthermia, hypertension, possibly convulsions even coma. Hallucinations may be auditory, visual, tactile and/or olfactory in nature. A major problem with the chronic abuse of methamphetamine is the development of paranoid psychosis that can result in violent and irrational behavior. This class of drugs has a high probability of a strong dependence by a user.

Methamphetamine is usually taken orally as capsules or tablets. Absorption from the gastrointestinal tract is good. Serious abusers intravenously inject, smoke or “snort” the drug. An interesting fact is that the solvent used to create large crystals is a clue about the process that was used to make the illicit methamphetamine product. With very volatile solvents only small crystals are formed. However, solvents with lower volatility such as methyl alcohol will result in larger crystals. In general the physical appearance of methamphetamine is as coarse powdery crystals, “chunks”, capsules, and tablets of various sizes and colors.

When choosing a laboratory, a company should always inquire and/or request information with regard to the following:

Laboratory Certifications. Some employees are required by law to be drug tested by a laboratory certified by the Department of Health and Human Services/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (DHHS/SAMHSA). A SAMHSA-certified laboratory, formerly referred to as the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), is not required for the great majority of drug testing. Employees that fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are examples of those required to be drug tested DHHS/SAMHSA-certified laboratory. When not required by law, most companies and criminal justice agencies choose to use a laboratory certified by another accrediting body. The College of American Pathologists (CAP) offers a Forensic Urine Drug Testing (FUDT) certification similar to the DHHS/SAMHSA.

Quality Control. As part of the testing procedure, the laboratory should include samples containing known drug concentrations with every batch of specimens analyzed, also referred to as controls. A laboratory should inter-calibrate results with other laboratories across the country. Thus technicians analyze specimens’ with concentrations known by an outside source but are unknown by laboratory personnel. Quality control is critical to measure the accuracy and precision of test results, a professional standard that every laboratory must maintain.

Laboratory Personnel Qualifications. The laboratory director should have an advanced degree in chemistry and be certified by an appropriate board or society. The director should have experience testifying as an expert witness in legal hearings associated with drug testing. Staff members should be available to provide advice about drug testing, a service every client should receive. An accredited board should certify any official that will provide an MRO review. All staff performing actual testing should have appropriate training, education, and experience. Do not hesitate to request a copy of the laboratory director’s Curriculum Vitae.

Chain of Custody Procedures. The laboratory should have all the necessary documents and must have special storage and handling procedures. Generally, the laboratory should store all positive specimens at -20 degrees Celsius for a minimum of one year (or until a disputed case has been settled) and all paperwork should be stored for two years.

Other services to consider may include, but are not limited to:

• Turnaround Time (generally, 24-48 hours for screen results from the time the laboratory receives the sample and 24-48 hours for confirmation results after the initial screen)
• Courier Service and Sample Transportation
• Expert Testimony
• Confidential Reporting of Results (a strict protocol for reporting to a designated official must be maintained)
• Customer Service (specifically, the availability and knowledge of a service representative)