ST. LOUIS — Thousands of uninsured burn patients are being hospitalized due to a new, crude method of making methamphetamine. The cost of treating these patients has contributed to the closure of some burn units.
"Shake-and-bake" meth is created by combining unstable ingredients in a 2-liter soda bottle, the Associated Press reports. Removing the cap too soon or puncturing the bottle can lead to an explosion.
A study by doctors at a burn center in Michigan found that the average meth patient's hospital stay costs $130,000, which is 60% more than other burn victims.
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