NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Multiple government agencies partnered with the North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety to help firefighters and police officers across the state learn how to stay safe when investigating possible drug labs. 

This is a 40-hour certification training, and part of the training included officers learning and simulating how drug dealers make products like Meth, different forms of marijuana, and a drug called Butane Honey Oil (BHO). Sgt. John Griffin with the North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety said BHO is becoming increasingly popular among high school and college kids. 

Sgt. Griffin said the purpose behind officers learning how to makes these kinds of drugs is so officers can better understand how to break down a safely, separate all the chemicals, and dispose of them properly. “The individual that is doing these types of methods in the labs, they have issues, whether mentally or substance abuse,” said Sgt. Griffin. “But, they’re still human, and we still have to do our job, so we want to do it as safely as possible.” 

Sgt. Griffin said many of the drugs used in labs have materials that can be explosive, and if officials don’t know what they’re dealing with or how to recognize a lab, they could put themselves in danger. He said the training has shown to be effective. “We’ve had no first responder injuries, no HAZMAT injuries, no fatalities on our side because of that,” said Sgt. Griffin. “That has helped out tremendously, knowing that our people are getting the training they need to go out and provide the community with what they need to have a safer environment.” 

During the past five years of this training, Sgt. Griffin said they’ve been able to detect about 120 drug labs in Horry and Georgetown counties. The training cost about $25,000, and the North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety worked with the Midwest Counter Drug Training Center, Network Environmental Systems, Clandestine Lab Investigation Association, and the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office to make sure first responders can be as safe as possible when investigating drug labs.

The firefighters and police officers participating came from Florence, Darlington, Georgetown, Myrtle Beach, and North Myrtle Beach. The training ends Friday, and those participating will be Certified Clandestine Lab Technicians when they finish.