Managers Information

Retailers' participation in the Meth Alert program will help decrease the likelihood of Meth cooks using local stores as suppliers for their ingredients.  Training employees and raising awareness among customers will help reduce the theft of the necessary products. 

Taking an aggressive approach to the Meth epidemic will make our communities safer, increase shoppers' confidence in their local retailers and build a strong working relationship with law enforcement.

Complying with the new restrictions on cold, allergy and asthma medicines containing pseudoephedrine will deter Meth manufacturers.  There are additional steps you can take to deter theft or large purchases of other products that are used in producing Meth:

● Limit the purchase of lithium batteries to no more than two packages per customer.
● Limit the purchase of ether (starting fluid) to no more than one per customer.
● Monitor inventory levels of key ingredients.  Compare quantities from year to year and month to month to identify any unusual activity.
● Pay attention to empty packages or blister packs discarded in the store.  This may indicate shoplifting the products for use in making Meth.
● Place the identified products in an area that can be easily monitored by employees.
● Educate employees on store policy related to these "target" products and on the proper response when a suspicious purchase is made.
● Implement and use security cameras as well as door decals and point-of-sale signs.
● Utilize "talk tags" (a photo of the product and a notice that it has been moved and can be purchased in a specific area)
● Have a system in place for documenting suspicious behavior and communicating with local law enforcement.

There are other things you can do to protect your community from Meth - and your business from the impact of Meth cooks.  To schedule training for your staff or for more information on the MAPP-SD Meth Alert program and materials, please contact MAPP-SD.