Breaking Bad Series: Methylamine

July 12, 2022 | Drug addiction

Breaking Bad: Methylamine

Created by Vince Gilligan, the Breaking Bad Series chronicles the adventures of an unlikely duo: Walter White, a chemistry professor / teacher and small-time hustler, Jesse Pinkman, as they partner up to make money by putting a lab cooking meth in a converted mobile home. The show also resulted in a prequel series, Better Call Saul, about Saul Goodman, a lawyer in Breaking Bad, and a movie, El Camino.

What was The Series Breaking Bad About?

The underlying premise of the show created by Vince Gilligan is that Walter White, who has been diagnosed with cancer, wants to make enough money as possible to take care of his family when he’s gone.  Instead of continuing to work part time at a car wash he recruits Jesse Pinkman, who has been cooking meth on a small basis, to put his plan into action and create a minor drug empire and create a rival in Gustavo Fring.    stealing methylamine, a train heist and avoiding drug enforcement agents are just two of the many subplots to the show.  

What is Methylamine?

Methylamine is an organic compound with a chemical formula of CH₃NH₂. In regular, legitimate society, it is used for making pharmaceuticals, insecticides, paint removers, surfactants, rubber chemicals. When Walt and Jesse steal the chemical, the end result is “Blue Sky,” their own personal brand of meth. This also results in them using the p2p cook method, or  Phenyl-2-Propanone. 

Click here to reach out to Quantum Behavioral Health Services at (609) 993-0733 to learn about our addiction treatment programs.

What is methylamine used for Breaking Bad?

In Breaking Bad, Walter White realizes it is taking too long to acquire pseudoephedrine in the quantities he wants to cook meth at the rate he thinks he needs to in order to reach his monetary goal. As a chemistry professor, Walter White knows the chemical formula of methylamine and realizes it can substitute for pseudoephedrine, which is found in over-the-counter cold medicine. In one of their numerous capers, he and Jesse Pinkman decide stealing methylamine is the fastest way to achieve their goal. Methylamine barrels aren’t the simplest thing to steal, but they do provide the large quantity of raw materials they need for their meth cooking process. 

Is the chemistry in Breaking Bad accurate?

The Breaking Bad recipe after Walt and Jesse steal the methylamine barrels, or what you might call the Walter White meth formula, is sound chemistry.  The show covers the chemical formula in a good amount of detail including the p2p cook method. 

What to do if someone has a meth overdose?

To some extent, shows like Breaking Bad glorify the drug trade, getting around the drug enforcement administration as well as substance abuse. This even includes being able to buy tote bags, framed prints or a drawstring bag with sayings from the show emblazoned on them, like “Yeah Science.”  A chemistry professor and his sidekick navigating the illicit drug life, spending time in a lab cooking meth, and avoiding problems with the Drug Enforcement Administration, seems exciting, but there are real world consequences when it comes to the abuse of crystal meth.  A crystal meth overdose can occur when an individual takes too much of the substance or has a negative reaction to the exact chemical formula of the batch the person has used.  If you know someone is using methamphetamines, here are some of the warning signs of an overdose:

  • Chest pain
  • Arrhythmias
  • Hypertension or hypotension
  • Difficult or labored breathing
  • Agitation
  • Hallucinations
  • Psychosis
  • Seizures
  • Rapid or slow heartbeat

The chemical formula of what is produced by each meth lab is different, like the Blue Sky variant , due to the variation in meth cooking process each uses to produce a viable product.  This is something that the  drug enforcement administration  warns users about, as it can lead to an overdose, sometimes deadly, when a person uses crystal meth from labs that cook meth differently.  Two additional symptoms of an overdose are a spike in blood pressure and heat stroke, which can cause organ shutdown.

If you think you, one of your loved ones, or someone you know is overdosing, call 911 immediately. When you call 911, you may not know anything about the exact chemical formula of the meth they have taken, but be sure to tell the operator as much as you can, like how they took crystal meth, how long ago they took it and how much of the drug they took, if you know.  Walter White may be one of TV’s favorite anti-heroes, but you can be a real life good samaritan if you take the right steps immediately when someone overdoses. 

Meth Addiction Treatment at Quantum Recovery

Vince Gilligan created the character Walter White, who devises a plan to develop a side hustle in order to help his family, and his drug empire including the Blue Sky meth formula, is the result.  If you are ready to get treatment for a crystal meth addiction, we have plans that can help you, too. It’s time to put the products of a meth lab behind you, and begin a happier, healthier lifestyle in addiction recovery. Buying tote bags, framed prints or a drawstring bag with sayings from the show emblazoned on them might seem cool but being addicted to a dangerous substance is definitely not. 

At Quantum, we have drug detox, counseling, and behavioral therapy options that will suit your needs.  Our flexible programs will help you work through all of the issues surrounding your drug abuse and help you move forward.  Give us a call today at (609) 993-0733 to find out more about our programs and what we can do for you.