Addiction Drug Use Meth Dangers of Shake and Bake Meth-Making Method By Buddy T Buddy T Facebook Twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 03, 2020 Fact checked Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Emily Swaim Fact checked by Emily Swaim LinkedIn Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell. Learn about our editorial process Print KAUZ News Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Smaller, Mobile Labs Extremely Dangerous Dangers to Others High Prevalence Don't Touch Discarded Bottles The shake and bake method of manufacturing methamphetamine is designed to get around laws restricting the sale of the ingredients needed to make meth. However, authorities suggest that it is even more dangerous than the old makeshift meth labs. Also known as the "one-pot" method, in this scenario meth is produced in a two-liter soda bottle. A few cold pills are mixed with common but harmful household chemicals, producing enough meth for the user to get a few hits. Smaller, Mobile Meth Labs The old meth labs required hundreds of pseudoephedrine pills, containers heated over open flames and cans of flammable liquids. The cooking process created foul odors, making the labs difficult to conceal and often sparked explosions. The shake and bake method requires only a few pseudoephedrine pills, circumventing laws passed restricting the sale of large quantities of over-the-counter decongestants, cold, and allergy remedies. Extremely Dangerous Method The shake and bake method is in no way safer than the old meth labs. If the bottle is shaken the wrong way, or if any oxygen gets inside of it, or if the cap is loosened too quickly, the bottle can explode. If the old clandestine meth labs caught fire, the "cooks" would just run away. With the shake and bake method, they are actually holding the bottle when it explodes. Police have linked dozens of flash fires — some of them fatal — to meth manufacturing. Dangers to the Public Police departments across the nation are training officers on how to handle the new mobile labs if they encounter them during traffic stops. If an officer doesn't know what they are looking at, they may unwittingly spark a fire. Since the mixture in the bottle can catch fire when exposed to oxygen, even an act as simple as unscrewing the cap to see what's inside (since it looks like an ordinary soda bottle), can be potentially life-threatening. High Prevalence The number of domestic meth lab incidents has been on the decline since 2010. However, 2017 data from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration shows that 81% of meth lab incidents involve small, personal labs that often use the one-pot method. The small shake and bake labs put everyone in danger because they can explode while the drug users are driving around, putting other drivers in danger. The old labs were usually concealed in secluded or rural areas because of the odors, but the new "labs" can be anywhere. Don't Touch Discarded Bottles The discarded soda bottles used in the process are also dangerous. Police have found them in ditches, in people's yards, and inside dumpsters. Authorities suggest that people who find discarded bottles containing an unknown mixture leave them alone. Do not open them or pick them up. Call the police and let them investigate to see if it's a danger. As with all illegal drug activity, don't try this at home. Meth labs are dangerous enough, but putting toxic chemicals in a soda bottle in a confined space like a car isn't just a recipe for meth—it's a recipe for disaster. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 2 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Injuries from methamphetamine-related chemical incidents — five states, 2001–2012. U.S. Department of Justices Drug Enforcement Administration. 2018 National Drug Threat Assessment. Get Treatment for Addiction Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.