Meth lab found on Hopkins hillside

The West Michigan Enforcement Team has confiscated a "one pot" methamphetamine lab after the chemicals were found on a hillside near Hopkins.

[Yes to Barack]

Wow-these people are losing their minds

[john grand rapids]

I heard the Meth labs are hiring business is booming risk reward is high.Customer base is growing ,margins excellent welcome to the new America........

[DEF]

Good thing the drug war has been so successful.

[Mike]

I am so sick of these morons! The one positive thing is that it is not uncommon for these meth labs to explode taking them out of the gene pool.

[guitartom]

This happened just about a mile from my house. Crazy world we live in.

[woodsprite53058]

Quote: "Lt. John Porter, a State Police Task Force commander says, "We made a big push a couple of years ago when we had a big problem. We sent a lot of these people to prison and now they're starting to come out. They're still addicted to the drug and they're going back to their old habits." " Well, that you for letting us know that prison is not a good deterrent. Education and helping these poor suckers get away from this drug is the best way to go. No one really wants to become addicted to this shit. Education and support to get away from the addiction is the wat to go. Won't help 100% of them but neither does jail.

[Hold yer horses]

I'm sure the economy playing a "role" rather than a "roll"...

[Schnozzy]

Ways to recognize a junkie neighbor:

-Meth mouth- shards of teeth left over after having severe rot. Looks similar to toothpicks or broken glass etched with black tracings.

-Body burns- burns resembling water marks on the skin. Caused by heating up the meth to smoke, followed by the meth dripping from the utensil and landing on the skin in the form of water drops.

-Security cameras- sudden interest in home protection. Installs cameras for "home security". This is mostly due to paranoia created by lack of sleep while using meth.

-Chemical smells- Chemical smells of Ether or other harsh chemicals may leave the house when meth is being cooked. Take notice if you smell new chemical aromas.

-Pick scabs- severe users will eventually begin to pick at thier skin, leaving cigerette burn looking scabs on their skin. There may be several and they can appear all over the body. Once a junkie starts to pick, they usually do not stop. It becomes a nervous habit created by meth. Sometimes the same scabs can be picked over and over. Other times, they will pick in a new place on the skin.

-Irratic sleeping patterns- One may notice thier neighbor having people over at late hours of the night regardless of work or school. May also notice heavy sleeping during the day. Sleeping patterns will fluctuate according to the dosage of (or lack there of) the user.

I am sure there are a lot more, these are physical symptoms that I have physically seen on meth junkies. Unfortunately, when I was in high school, one of my dear friend's aunt got caught up in this stuff. We were teenagers and steered clear, but it was painfully obvious that she was severely strung out. Eventually she was busted for meth and went to prison for selling the stuff. That was in 1996 and in Oklahoma. Try not to feel too bad Michigan, this nasty stuff is everywhere! All we can do is warn our children and closest loved ones that this stuff is POISON!

[Doc]

It is very sad that the people who built this lab left it laying around. This lady could have been seriously injured if that could have detonated. I agree with woodsprite53058 no one wants to become addicted to this and have it chained to their very soul. However, the care of the greater good is utmost at the mind of all "good citizens" so, if it is booze, crack, pcp, or meth. Helping the addict remove themselves as well as jail to assist them in drying out is needed. Not so much to dry out the addict but to change the possible impact on the rest of us that (his or her) actions can have. Try stopping a heroin addict from getting money to by drugs, not going to happen. Try stopping a drunk from driving to the store to by booze. Not going to happen they will use lawn mowers or little kids to drive them. It is a symptom of escape from the pain in their souls that is driving most addicts to remain in the life of addiction. We as good citizens need to assist them by getting them help at any cost, less the cost be one of our loved ones lives, either behind the wheel of a car, or by them becoming addicted to the chemical themselves. I doubt if anyone ever holds a child and says that I wish you were an addict, especially when the impact is early death and the pain that goes on before they get there. And just think America has the highest number of people in jail right now in the world. Wouldn't it be great to take those currently non-productive lives and help them become the budding professionals of the future. So these are people not "poor suckers" they just took wrong turns in life and need intervention and care. The victims also need more of our care to help rebuild themselves after the trauma of being hurt, less they turn also to addiction as the answer. The greatest victim is the children who get to see and hear all of this and think this is normal to grow up in a culture of "feeding the pain" verses working through the pain. The addict has no idea that they are hurting others they are focused on the addiction. Rehab and life long help is really the only way to change this person, and as the previously written - "others won't be helped 100% of the time" - the real question is what to do with those people to lesson the impact on our cultures future.

[Trash man]

Yes, I'd like to hug them too. Maybe give them a fuzzy bunny to have. Or put a warm coppery slug in them if they come on my property.

[Allegan County Resident]

I live about a mile from here as well. Just scarry, knowing that I walk by that place in the summer almost every day.

[Zieman]

Doc wrote:

It is very sad that the people who built this lab left it laying around. This lady could have been seriously injured if that could have detonated. I agree with woodsprite53058 no one wants to become addicted to this and have it chained to their very soul. However, the care of the greater good is utmost at the mind of all "good citizens" so, if it is booze, crack, pcp, or meth. Helping the addict remove themselves as well as jail to assist them in drying out is needed. Not so much to dry out the addict but to change the possible impact on the rest of us that (his or her) actions can have. Try stopping a heroin addict from getting money to by drugs, not going to happen. Try stopping a drunk from driving to the store to by booze. Not going to happen they will use lawn mowers or little kids to drive them. It is a symptom of escape from the pain in their souls that is driving most addicts to remain in the life of addiction. We as good citizens need to assist them by getting them help at any cost, less the cost be one of our loved ones lives, either behind the wheel of a car, or by them becoming addicted to the chemical themselves. I doubt if anyone ever holds a child and says that I wish you were an addict, especially when the impact is early death and the pain that goes on before they get there. And just think America has the highest number of people in jail right now in the world. Wouldn't it be great to take those currently non-productive lives and help them become the budding professionals of the future. So these are people not "poor suckers" they just took wrong turns in life and need intervention and care. The victims also need more of our care to help rebuild themselves after the trauma of being hurt, less they turn also to addiction as the answer. The greatest victim is the children who get to see and hear all of this and think this is normal to grow up in a culture of "feeding the pain" verses working through the pain. The addict has no idea that they are hurting others they are focused on the addiction. Rehab and life long help is really the only way to change this person, and as the previously written - "others won't be helped 100% of the time" - the real question is what to do with those people to lesson the impact on our cultures future.

Hey Doc,

It is nice to see someone you has a compassionate attitude towards the addicts. I also believe these people need as much help as we can provide to them. I only hope more people would take notice of your comments and try to help others that are not as well off as themselves.

[jpz]

they got them meff teef...

[Ash]

I live in hopkins and when i heard about the whole meht issue i was not supprised. I am a current resident and i was disapointed when i found out our police are practically all gone. Our town decided to spend money on vanity rather than safety. Our town is going to "The Dogs" and I think our township board should do something. I think we should have safety rather vanity.

[Explain]

Ash wrote:

I live in hopkins and when i heard about the whole meht issue i was not supprised. I am a current resident and i was disapointed when i found out our police are practically all gone. Our town decided to spend money on vanity rather than safety. Our town is going to "The Dogs" and I think our township board should do something. I think we should have safety rather vanity.

I am also a resident. What sort of vanity issues are you referencing??

[Deb V]

I was quite shocked when I heard about the meth dump!!! I just moved to Hopkins about a year and a half ago thinking what a nice safe community to live in! Now I'm wondering if there is anywhere safe??? Meth is a terrible poison and I feel for anyone that get's caught up in it whether it be making, selling or being addicted.