Managing Meth Contamination - Stewarts Drug Testing Blog

Drug Testing For House : When to get it done and what are the limitations?

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 04:33:15 GMT

A Review of Drug Testing Limitations and Timing

When should you get drug testing done in a commercial and or residential scenario? It's a complex question that doesn’t have a single answer. But, we hope to enlighten you on the types of reasons and situations, where drug testing is essential. If you are concerned about a home that you would like to buy, we can help. Our services are used by all sorts of people and companies in the real estate industry. We also believe that our unique drug testing services are brilliant for commercial and or corporate settings. We can shine a light on various activities that would otherwise be bad for business. We can also be a part of your effort to support your employees’ wellbeing and challenges to find reasons that could be thwarting productivity.

Who should be aiming for drug testing?

Corporate

Business office

If you are a business in search of a new office, we are a service that you need to use to protect your employees. With the new competitive environment for office space, many companies will be looking to expand. Commercial office space has grown on the market but that means you have the time and ability to pick through carefully, which office space you would like.

Our testing service will go through any commercial property that you are seeking to lease or buy. We’ll test surfaces such as desks, toilets, walls, meeting rooms and floors for any sign that drug use was apparent in the premises. We’ll search for signs of meth and make sure that you are notified if any residue is found. This can help your employees stay healthy as you can remove any such substances thanks to our knowledge.

Employees

If you would like to know whether your employees are taking anything they shouldn’t, we can help here too. You want your employees to stay sharp and on the ball, as they represent you when they are meeting clients and other professionals in your industry. Therefore, we can conduct drug testing on your employees to see if they are taking meth. This can be to save their lives and get them on the right track again. However, it can also be in a bid to save your image. You don’t want your managers and C-suite level employees to be under the influence of such a drug while they are making very important and costly decisions.

Residential

Moving house

We believe that residents in search of a new home need to get our drug testing done. Any new property that you hope to make your new family home, should be fully tested and made safe. Your children should never have to live in a home that has meth power or residue inside it. Breathing that in day in and day out, can cause serious mental concerns such as insomnia and health scares such as irritated skin and headaches. Our drug testing can be used to go through an entire house, and find anything that shouldn’t be there.

How accurate is drug testing?

We believe that our testing is reliable and can be done relatively quickly due to our expertise both on-site and in labs.

Rapid testing: we can do a very fast testing if you are need or urgency and speed. However that doesn't mean that quality will be overlooked as we strive ourselves on having very accurate and trustworthy results.

A rapid test is like a pregnancy test, in that we will give you a positive or negative result. It won’t give you the level of contamination. We do a swab test of an area of about 100cm2.

Lab testing: the NIOSH 9111 test is when we can give you an exact reading of the level of contamination. We again, swab an area of 100cm2 and then take the swabs back to the lab. We will test the swab and give you an accurate reading of what we find. We can tell you the level and the danger that it poses.

We don’t offer on-site lab or composite testing. This is because we find that it is inaccurate and actually, costs the customer more. It's understandable that testing at the location with essentially prop-up labs is not only rushing the process but increases the costs unduly. Therefore we refuse to do this.

What is corporate drug testing?

Corporate drug testing is vital for any business that wishes to keep it's employees safe and on the right track. This is done when we drug test your employees to see if they are taking any substances such as meth. You never know, your junior and lower level employees might be fine, but their managers are not taking care of themselves.

You might also wish to do this if you see that an employee is under the influence of a substance but you need to prove it before you can fire them. You don’t want to be taken to a tribunal court for ending an employee’s contract before it's due date for renewal or termination. So our testing can give you the answer and the legal reason, to fire them if they are taking drugs.

Why should you test your new home?

Before you buy a home, you should perform drug testing in all of it's rooms and hallways. But if you have already moved in, that’s not a problem, as we can still find trace amounts.

If you have a baby, their mind and body is so vulnerable and breathing in particles of meth could be permanently damaging to their health. We believe that we can shine a light on any such substances and prevent your baby from having serious brain defects in the future. If you have moved into an area that has seen its fair share of drug abuse, we highly recommend that you use drug testing services to be on the safe side and protect your family and home.

So feel free to contact us, ask any questions you’d like to know the answers to and we’ll be more than happy to help you.

How Meth Contaminates a Building

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 03:23:37 GMT

How does Meth Contaminate a Building?

When meth is smoked, the crystals are heated and change form. Those tiny particles that become airborne and do not make it into the user's system, will land on the walls, floors, ceilings and any soft furnishings. Once the smoke hits these surfaces, the drug embeds itself into the surface and eventually changes back to its original form, tiny crystals. When manufacturing, it’s the same principle, but worse. When manufacturing takes place, you deal with toxic chemicals like mercury, lead, iodine, lithium, and toxic solvents that could spill and become airborne through the cooking process. This is how a home becomes contaminated.

While other drugs are usually plant-based, meth is cooked up using these synthetic human-made materials. Just like our human-made friend, plastic, meth will break down eventually, but in the meantime, it affects the health of humans and animals coming in contact with it. The effects we are seeing include a persistent cough, asthma and ADHD like symptoms, decreased memory function, trouble sleeping, skin rashes, watery eyes, dizziness, and blurry vision —the list continues. While contamination is repeatedly effecting people of all ages who live in these homes, young children and pets are the ones most affected. This is because they come in contact with floors and walls though playing and bare skin contact more regularly than adults.

Innocent renters and home buyers are paying their way into sickness as these homes go undetected. It is recommended that methamphetamine rescue testing be carried out to protect yourself and your family from these health risks before you move into a rental house or purchase a property.

To find more information, check out the Stewarts Drug Testing blog. Here, you can find more information concerning health implications caused by living in a meth-contaminated home, along with the Australian Guidelines, how testing is carried out, and what you should do to protect your health and your family’s health.

Families at risk with short-stay holiday rentals used to cook methamphetamine being left completely undetected.

Fri, 23 Aug 2019 01:09:11 GMT

Families at Risk with Short-Stay Holiday Rentals Used to Cook Methamphetamine Being Left Completely Undetected.

Do you rent out one of your properties as a short-stay apartment or home?

Have you ever rented out a short-stay apartment/home for business or a holiday?

Let’s get straight into it. A significant number of short-term holiday homes are being used to manufacture Methamphetamine. Yes, you read that correctly, they are being used as meth labs. In May this year, an Airbnb in Adelaide was found to have a meth lab set up by two gentlemen who rented the home for five nights. The police stumbled across the lab after responding to reports of a fire. The two men had only moved into the house just 24 hours earlier. They set up the meth lab within the property intending to set up the lab, manufacture Methamphetamine, pack up and leave within this short five day period being completely undetected, something that the Adelaide Police said isn’t uncommon in short-term rental properties. Meth labs don’t need to be a chemistry equipment style lab (like this setup); often there is no sign these types of drug labs even existed once they’re dismantled. What is left though is toxic, dangerous chemicals and meth residue for the next unsuspecting renter. This toxic residue can cause symptoms including persistent cough, asthma-like symptoms, trouble sleeping, ADHD, decreased memory function, skin rashes, watery eyes, dizziness and blurry vision—the list goes on. Although this incident is shocking, it is not a one-off occurrence. In December 2015, a similar situation happened in Queensland where police raided an Airbnb and found a meth lab set up for manufacturing meth. Not too long after this, in March 2016, an explosion occurred at the Meriton apartments in Queensland. It was said that a man was manufacturing meth at 5 a.m. in the holiday apartment when he was mixing chemicals that caused the explosion to happen.

The detection, management, and cleanup of labs like these in Australia are almost exactly reliant on detection by law enforcement. By their one admission, this meant that 90% to 95% of labs go entirely undetected. While we should be concerned for the labs that will not be detected in the future, there is still an uncountable number of labs that have contaminated properties across Australia where no management or cleanup has occurred. These statistics arose from the Clandestine Laboratories Assessment and Management report written by Will Jones, a qualified Environmental Consultant specialising in asbestos and hazardous materials management, asbestos site contamination, air quality risk management, and hazardous chemicals management. Within this report, he also speaks of New Zealand where methamphetamine residue testing is now the norm. He indicates that up to 50% of rental properties are contaminated with some level of meth residue. So what does that mean for Australia? A country with one of the highest rates of methamphetamine use in the world and the highest user among English-speaking countries. Good question!

You may also be asking, how did this problem get so out of control?

Well, there are many different ways of manufacturing meth—some methods take a few days, and some take a matter of hours, depending on the ingredients and materials used. It all boils down to what chemicals are being used and the type of chemical reaction that will take place to create the base form of methamphetamine. According to the research reported in the enHealth Guidance on Clandestine Drug Laboratories and Public Health Risks, WA mostly use the Nazi/Birch method which is fast, cost-effective, and one of the easiest ways of manufacturing meth. All materials can be purchased from your local hardware store and mainly utilises large plastic bottles. From start to finish, the drug can be ready to consume within 24 hours. When you consider this, it is not that difficult to rent a short-stay rental house for a few days, set up, cook and pack down, all completely undetected.

How can you protect yourself from renting a short-stay property that may have been used as a lab in the past? The number of people enquiring if the owners regularly check short-stay apartments for meth residue is rising. Before booking your stay, send the owner a message and ask if the property has recently been tested for methamphetamine. If it has been tested, make sure you get the results, which are considered negative if the residue is under 0.5ug (micrograms) (in accordance with the Australian Guidelines).

If you are the owner renting out a short-stay property, test your home regularly. Have it written into your terms and conditions that the property will be tested for methamphetamine after each stay. This will deter anybody specifically looking for a property to rent for this purpose.

Stewarts Drug Testing offers methamphetamine residue testing for short-term and long-term rentals, commercial properties, residential properties, pre-purchased properties and more. If you have any questions regarding testing, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

KEY SOURCES:

Clandestine Laboratory Assessment and Management - WILL JONES - (September 2017) https://www.qed.com.au/sites/default/files/QED_Clandestine_Whitepaper_0.pdf

enHealth Guidance on: Clandestine Drug Laboratories and Public Health Risks (January 2017) https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/A12B57E41EC9F326CA257BF0001F9E7D/$File/Guidance-Clandestine-Drug-Laboratories-Public-Health.pdf

Our Addiction to Meth and Its Contamination.

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 05:27:34 GMT

Meth—why are we so addicted to it?

Methamphetamine is an extremely powerful and addictive human-made illegal drug that stimulates the central nervous system. It is considered the most addictive drug. Around 2% of Australians use methamphetamine , and we are amongst the highest users in the English-speaking world. The drug comes in two primary forms, crystal (ice) and powder (speed), half of Australian users preferring ice over speed or base. The colour of these crystals and powders may differ depending on the purity of the drug and the way it was manufactured. When the drug is consumed, it causes a chemical reaction in the brain. Specifically, the brain starts to release a high amount of dopamine.

The reason is that the shape, size, and chemical structure of methamphetamine and dopamine are similar. For example, when something pleasurable happens, the certain axons release lots of dopamine. When an individual takes crystal meth, the brain does the same thing, but it increases dopamine release and blocks dopamine re-uptake — increases transmission by 1,500%! This causes a feeling of ultimate bliss, happiness and a sense of invulnerability that lasts anywhere from 8 to 12 hours. However, it is also followed by the "crash" that results in unpleasant feelings, such as paranoia, aggression and anxiety. When a user is not taking the drug, everyday life no longer gives them any sense of pleasure. This is what causes the vicious cycle and addictive habits, as they try to achieve that same level of happiness and pleasure when the drug is in their system. When you think of an individual using meth, your most commonly think of a full-scale addict; however, in reality, an extensive percentage of meth users are using the drug in "society" at large. Social users do not use regularly, or in large quantities; around 10-15% of meth users hold a stable job and live a relatively "normal" life. Sadly, this habit and addiction affects many other people, apart from the users themselves and their families. Meth is contaminating homes across Australia and, in turn, it is causing extreme health effects, not only for adults, but also for young children and pets.

How does Meth Contaminate a Building?

When meth is smoked, the crystals are heated and change form. Those tiny particles that become airborne and that do not make it into the user's system, will land on the walls, floors, ceilings and any soft furnishings. Once the smoke hits these surfaces, the drug embeds itself into the surface and eventually changes back to its original form, tiny crystals. When manufacturing, it’s the same principle, but worse. When manufacturing takes place, you deal with toxic chemicals like mercury, lead, iodine, lithium, and toxic solvents that could spill and become airborne through the cooking process. This is how a home becomes contaminated.

While other drugs are usually plant-based, meth is cooked up using these synthetic human-made materials. Just like our human-made friend, plastic, meth will break down eventually, but in the meantime, it affects the health of humans and animals coming in contact with it. The effects we are seeing include a persistent cough, asthma-like symptoms, trouble sleeping, ADHD, decreased memory function, skin rashes, watery eyes, dizziness, and blurry vision —the list continues as more research continues. While contamination is repeatedly effecting people of all ages who live in these homes, young children and pets are the ones most affected. This is because they come in contact with floors and walls though playing and bare skin contact more regularly than adults.

KEY SOURCES:

NSW Remediation Guidelines for Clandestine Drug Laboratories and Hydroponic Drug Plantation A Report to Health Protection NSW Prepared by Jackie Wright (September 2015) https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/hazard/Documents/clan-lab-guidelines.pdf

NIDA National Institute on Drug Abuse (updated April 2019) https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/how-methamphetamine-different-other-stimulants-such-cocaine

International Child and Youth Care Network (CYC-Net) - Steven J. Lee, M.D.- Crystal Methamphetamine (APRIL 2006) https://www.cyc-net.org/cyc-online/cycol-0406-lee.html

The Health Risk of Meth Contamination and Dr Jackie Wright’s Case Study

Fri, 07 Jun 2019 08:42:43 GMT

The Health Risk of Meth Contamination and Dr Jackie Wright’s Case Study

The adverse health effects of living within a methamphetamine-contaminated property are consistent. The impacts we are seeing are respiratory, cognitive and behavioural. These effects have included persistent cough, asthma-like symptoms, trouble sleeping, ADHD, decreased memory function, skin rashes, watery eyes, dizziness and blurry vision—the list goes on. Children tend to be more at risk of being affected by meth contamination as they play regularly coming into contact with walls, floors and other surfaces. These effects have been noted in a family who have been studied after unknowingly purchasing and living in a home that was a former meth lab.

Dr Jackie Wright is one of the leading environmental risk scientists researching methamphetamine contamination and its risks. She has spent roughly 7–8 years researching and completed her PhD in the area. She is still continuing her research to gather more evidence.

This study was conducted on a Victorian family who purchased a home that was a former meth lab. This study highlighted the importance of testing/screening for meth and decontamination if necessary. The case study outlined when the family purchased the home in October 2013. Previously that same year, the house was owned by an individual who had methamphetamine manufacturing equipment and chemicals in the same property. The police seized the equipment and chemicals, and the owner was arrested. From here, the police followed the standard procedures, notifying the local council, indicating that the home was a former drug lab and posed a potential health risk to anyone living or going inside the home. The council issued a notice to clean up the property; however, the cleanup was not performed. It was not stated why the cleanup was not performed. This was when an innocent family of five purchased the home. Standard pre-purchase inspections were completed, but a former lab was not detected. This indicates that they did not request a methamphetamine test to be carried out, unknowingly putting their family at risk. This was a meth lab that has easily slipped through the cracks, only to be picked up on months later. Seven months had passed by when, in May 2014, the local council advised the owners that their home was a former drug lab. The family had been living in the home during this time. It was between May and October 2014 when environmental testing was carried out in the house. The results revealed methamphetamine residue on surfaces inside the family home ranging from 11.7–26.0 µg/100 cm squared. This is way above our Australian Guidelines of 0.5 µg/100 cm squared. Because of the high levels of contamination, the family was required to vacate their home in March 2015.

This short time when the family was living in the home resulted in adverse health effects consistent with a persistent cough, asthma-like symptoms, trouble sleeping, ADHD, decreased memory function, skin rashes, watery eyes, dizziness and blurry vision. Specifically, the youngest child, whose age was just seven years old, had effects including a persistent cough, asthma-like symptoms, trouble sleeping, fearfulness, vivid/scary dreams, irritability, anxiety, somatization, ADHD, skin rashes, sore and watery eyes. All members of the family were affected by the contamination. Sadly, the youngest children were most affected due to their playful nature, which included regularly playing games that involved rolling on floors, touching all types of surfaces and running their hands along the walls. A follow up of the family was noted where they stated that within 6 to 12 months after they vacated, they noticed that the respiratory effects, trouble sleeping, and behavioural changes were mostly resolved.

Will Jones presented to the Environmental Health Association in Perth, stating that it's not only meth labs causing these negative health impacts but the heavy smoking of meth as well. He reported that effects during pregnancy can include foetal distress, premature birth, cleft palates, withdrawal symptoms after birth and, sadly, even heart problems after birth. He also reported on the effects that infants and children experience, such as mental and physical development problems, abnormal sleep patterns, and neurological abnormalities, including autism-type behaviours and ADHD. We can see that these effects are consistent with the case study conducted by Dr Jackie Wright.

It is worth noting that the residue levels of 11.7–26.0 µg/100 cm squared are very insubstantial readings when considering the data from Australian premises noted in the enHealth Guidance on Clandestine Drug Laboratories and Public Health Risks. The enHealth Guidance “Summary of Methylamphetamine Surface Residues in Former Clan Labs” provides evidence of contamination levels ranging from 0.03ug to 460.00ug in dining/family rooms, 0.05ug to 791.00ug in kitchens (including benches) and 0.04ug to 1400.00ug in sheds/garages.

If a tenant has created a lab in a rental property, and the property manager or landlord does not try to remediate the contamination or get the home tested, what kind of side effects could be experienced if contamination is in the hundreds or even thousands?

Will Jones also stated that “The current management of methamphetamine contamination within residential properties in Australia is almost exclusively based on detection of clan labs by law enforcement.” He then went on to explain that by their own admission, this means 90–95% of labs are going completely undetected and unaddressed.

Methamphetamine testing within Australian law enforcement is not new. But, to the everyday citizen, it is something very new. Countries such as New Zealand have recently instated standards where it’s “the norm” for a rental property to be tested when a tenant vacates. Or, if you’re purchasing a home, testing is added in with the pre-purchase inspections.

I feel its time that Australia steps up. We can see the health effects, and we have evidence of this. While we have guidelines, we need standards. Our sociality is still learning and understanding. But, the word needs to spread, and it needs to spread fast. Protect your loved ones, and make it known to them before they purchase a home or move into a new rental property.

To reinforce this, Will Jones also stated in his report that “A broader risk management program including baseline testing, property screening, methamphetamine-specific clauses in tenancy agreements, appropriate insurance policies, and professional remediation where necessary will be required to ensure positive outcomes for property owners and tenants into the future.”

To find out more information about meth contamination and the statistics on meth use in Western Australia, head to our Stewarts Drug Testings blog.

KEY SOURCES:

Clandestine Laboratory Assessment and Management - WILL JONES - (September 2017) https://www.qed.com.au/sites/default/files/QED_Clandestine_Whitepaper_0.pdf

Adverse Health Effects Associated with Living in a Former Methamphetamine Drug Laboratory — 2015 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/pdfs/mm6552a3.pdf

So, do you think your tenant is using or manufacturing meth?

Tue, 28 May 2019 03:13:35 GMT

So, do you think your tenant is using or manufacturing meth?

Methylamphetamine use in Western Australia is high. We have a wealth of statistics to support that. Our usage is much higher than the natural average, and Australia has one of the highest rates of meth use in the English speaking world. If you suspect that your tenant is using or manufacturing meth, it's not a bad thing to look into. If an individual manufactures or is smoking a large amount of meth within a private property, he or she is contaminating the property and causing extreme damage—damage that can cost anywhere between a few hundred dollars to over $200,000, with the possibility of having to strip out or demolish the home completely. New South Wales Police say that at least 10 homes a year are demolished from meth contamination. As more media coverage spreads, so do the concerns of landlords and property managers. Property managers should check their Professional Indemnity insurance policy before getting started because it often contains a “pollution” exclusion clause. If a lab is identified, property managers should be protected by their Professional Indemnity for any allegation of professional negligence. You can find out more under “Your Safety and Legal Protection”. Considering all this, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. What to look for in a tenant who is using or manufacturing meth, how to work out if the property is contaminated, and what to do next?

Behaviour of Users

When you pull up the driveway to do your scheduled rent inspection, you may feel uneasy, not knowing what to expect. That bubbling feeling is sitting in the pit of your stomach and slowly drawing its way up to your neck. Why? Because the tenants you’re about to come face to face with are secretive, aggressive, and paranoid and display behaviour that makes you uncomfortable. They may be using. Your gut feeling could be an indicator. Trust it!
Behaviour Signs Include:

Paranoia
Aggression
Looking tired (users usually can’t sleep)
Not very responsive (if they have used recently)
Very secretive
Psychosis
Itching and scratching more than usual

Many meth users are social users, who don’t use regularly or in large quantities. Around 10%–15% of meth users hold stable jobs and live relatively normal lives. This is important because if you have a tenant who is a social user, there could be no visual evidence at all. (This 10%–15% can still cause contamination to the home through smoking.)
When the drug enters a user’s system, the chemical makeup in his or her brain changes. Meth will stimulate the central nervous system and increase the production of dopamine, creating a rush, followed by a state of agitation (state of anxiety or nervous excitement). The behaviour noted above is often seen in people who use. Although these behaviours can be seen every day in people suffering from anxiety or schizophrenia, it is still important that you are safe at all times. Prioritise your safety so that no one is harmed. Remember, these behaviours are specific to someone who is using.

Manufacturing

If an individual is manufacturing meth, red flags would include:

Not letting you into specific rooms — Keeping someone out of a particular room could be a red flag. They are hiding something from you. That something could be a pet that’s not allowed on the property, or it could be illegal activity. Partnered with these rooms, you may notice that the windows have been covered or there are unusual ventilation systems or extension cords coming out of windows.
Having unusual security measures, such as baby monitors outside
Having unusual amounts of rubbish — The manufacturing process of meth creates a vast amount of waste. This includes bottles and batteries that have been ripped open. In saying this, the amount of rubbish can be substantially lowered by using the shake-and-bake method.
You may notice ingredients such as Pseudoephedrine (extracted out of cold and flue tablets), lithium (found in batteries), acetone (nail polish remover or paint thinner), red phosphorus (found in fire matches) etc.
They are smoking outside — The chemical that is used for cooking meth is highly flammable; hence, if they tend to smoke outside, in conjunction with other red flags, there may be a lab inside the home.

Other red flags include smells, equipment, and adjustments to the home (more details below).

The Lab

To break things down even further, if you’re looking for key signs of a meth lab, you have to look carefully. A lab is not always full of chemistry equipment, just like you have seen on Breaking Bad that time you were binge-watching until 2 a.m. Statistically, for each property the police seize that has a clandestine meth lab, there are 10 more they won’t find. Australia-wide, the police uncover just 700 meth labs a year on average. So, why aren’t they finding more?
Shockingly, a few simple plastic soda or water bottles will do the trick! Yes, the water bottle you had a drink out of just today can be easily turned into a portable meth lab – something that can sit on the bench of a kitchen or in the bathroom cupboard. This method can also be used to cook meth anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Thus, if it can be set up, used, and thrown in the bin, all within a few houses, how is anyone ever going to notice?

What you need to look for: Smells, Equipment & Home Adjustments

- Smells -

Odours are something that usually cannot be hidden when the drug is being manufactured. When manufacturing, the scent is strong, but with proper ventilation, the home can be aired out easily and quickly. Usually, neighbours can smell these odours when the drug is being manufactured. Smells that you might notice are:

Varnish or paint thinner
A “hospital” type smell
Vinegar or other sour smells
Ammonia

If a tenant is smoking meth, you generally won’t smell anything. Meth, when smoked, has little to no odour, making it easy for an individual to smoke freely within a property, leaving little to no evidence.

- Equipment -

Noticing equipment that is used in a meth lab is tricky, mainly because a large proportion of the items used are everyday household items. These items may have stains, and they may be in locations that may not usually be used or may have had adjustments done to them that seem unusual. Equipment to look for include:

A large number of plastic bottles (Some labs only use the shake-and-bake or one-pot method, and plastic bottles would be the only evidence of a lab.)
Rubber tubes
Respiratory masks and filters
An unusual number of rubber gloves
Things like bed sheets or coffee filters stained red from being used as strainers
Lots of funnels
Copper metal turning blue
Pyrex, glass, mason jars, or other kitchen glassware (These may be fitted with hoses, clamps, or duct tape.)
Hoses hanging from windows.

- Home Adjustments -

Adjustments to the house are probably the biggest red flag, mainly because the average person renting a property won’t make significant changes. Significant changes can sometimes be seen from outside the property, keeping you safe! While reading through this, it is essential to keep in mind that many of these significant changes to a property are not needed for the shake-and-bake method.

Stains on sinks and/or baths/toilets
Burn marks in carpets or on the lawn/garden
Red staining around walls and on floors
Unusual ventilation systems
Elaborate/excessive security — cameras, keep out signs, baby monitors outside
Window coverings such as sheetings of foil, wood panels, and sometimes paint.
Locks added to cupboards, bedroom doors, attics, etc.
Tape around doors.
Hoses are hanging from windows.

New Tenants

So, if there was a lab or if the last tenants had smoked in the house, they have packed up and left. The house is now empty and ready for a new tenant, so why bother testing? Landlords and property managers have a legal obligation to provide a safe rental property. Property managers also have a duty of care to the tenant, protecting their health and safety when living in the home. Any meth residue that has contaminated the property can cause significant health complications. This can present a liability risk by allowing a contaminated home to be occupied; the property manager may breach the Residential Tenancies Act in their state/territory or contravene building, environmental and health legislation, leaving landlords and agents exposed to legal action and claims for compensation. REMEMBER, if a tenant is part of that 10% - 15% of users who use socially, they could show no sign of use at all, keeping a perfectly tidy house and living the normal 9 to 5 working job. This 10% - 15% can still cause contamination in the home through smoking.

Your Safety and Legal Protection

Your safety should always be the priority in situations that can get out of hand.
If you believe that you’ve found a meth lab, do not approach it as the chemicals inside could be dangerous or even lethal. Instead, call the police immediately.
If a lab is identified, property managers should be protected by your Professional Indemnity insurance for any allegations of professional negligence. You should check your policy because these insurances often contain a “pollution” exclusion clause.
If you're a landlord, you also need to check if your Landlord Insurance provides specific coverage for the discovery of a meth lab.
If you’re concerned, get some professional to test the property. Stewarts Drug Testing is a family-owned and operated company that specialises in testing for meth residue.

KEY SOURCES:

Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (20 February 2019) Retrieved from https://www.acic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases-and-statements/wastewater-analysis-shows-highest...

Dr. Jackie Wright Exposure and Risk Associated with Clandestine Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Drug Laboratories (July 2016) https://flex.flinders.edu.au/file/39066a68-f6da-400e-9150-6d2f7a5ab899/1/ThesisWright2016.pdf

The International Child and Youth Care Network (CYC-Net) (APRIL 2006) https://www.cyc-net.org/cyc-online/cycol-0406-lee.html

J. Fetherston and S. Lenton - WA DRUG TRENDS 2017 Findings from the
Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) (2017) https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/ndarc/resources/WA%202017%20IDRS.PDF

Australian Drug Trends 2018 - KEY FINDINGS FROM THE NATIONAL ILLICIT DRUG REPORTING SYSTEM (IDRS) INTERVIEWS - https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/ndarc/resources/National%20IDRS%20Interview%20Repo...

A Rapidly Growing Need for Meth Residue Testing

Mon, 20 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A Rapidly Growing Need for Meth Residue Testing

I’m sure many of you have seen the headlines exposing the high presence of meth within our community. Western Australia specifically ranking above the national average with rates at 1.4% nationally and 2.7% in Western Australia in the same year. While funding from the government to crack down on the drug with the Western Australian Methamphetamine Action Plan will help, tens of thousands of homes have already been contaminated with many more at significant risk due to rising meth use and manufacture. The most shocking statistic though? It has been recorded that young children living in a meth-contaminated home have the equivalent level of meth in their system an adult meth user.

Both manufacturing and smoking meth leaves a toxic chemical residue that stains and impregnates walls, floors, ceilings and carpets. When meth is manufactured, contaminants can include mercury, lead, iodine, lithium and poisonous solvents. Your body and young children’s bodies can take in this toxic residue in day to day life through touching and breathing. Sadly children are more susceptible to health risks due to their inquisitive nature. Exposure to meth residue can damage the nervous system, liver and blood production mechanisms, symptoms including headaches, irritated skin, and insomnia.

So what is being done to stop this?

The authorities are working hard. The government has put in action a Methamphetamine Action Plan for WA that was established in June 2017. This act will inject roughly $30 million into rehabilitation centres and continue to employ community treatment employees. This $30 million has been allocated for 2018-19 to 2021-22. While police are working hard, they can't keep up. Research suggests that for each property they seize that has a clandestine meth lab, there are 10 more they won't find. Australia wide the police uncover just 700 meth labs a year.

The manufacturing of meth was revolutionised around the late ’90s with the introduction of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine into common cold and flu medicine. Hand in hand with the common cold medicine, most ingredients and materials can be purchased from your local hardware store. The highly addictive drug, being able to be whipped up in less than 30 minutes using the “shake n bake” or “one pot” method.

Ingredients for the “shake n bake” or “one pot” method include:

Sodium Hydroxide – Can be obtained at hardware stores in the drain cleaner section.
Ammonium Nitrate – This can be obtained through cutting open cold packs. These packs can be purchased over the counter
Camp Fuel
Distilled Water – This plays a crucial role in one pot meth lab process
Lithium Strips – Obtained by cutting open Energizer AA Lithium batteries
MEK or Xylene NP Solvent – Easily found at hardware stores in the paint section
Pseudoephedrine HCL (PSE)
Denatured Alcohol (ethanol)
Iodized Salt (table salt mixed with a minute amount of various salts of the element iodine)
Sulfuric Acid or Muriatic Acid – Found in hardware stores paint section.

How is it affecting our homes?

10 homes yearly are having to be demolished from extreme levels of meth contamination. While the health risks are concerning the final burden being placed on new home buyers and landlords are tremendous. With decontamination of a meth lab starting from around $5,000 quickly reaching $150,000 for a large home. The nail in the coffin is the fact that most insurance companies do not cover decontamination costs from meth residue.

What's the solution?

While not every property in Australia is contaminated with meth residue, it is essential to protect your health and your wallet.

For landlords and property managers, Stewarts Drug Testing can carry out testing between tenancies to prevent contamination from building up or avoid temptation is being proven to work.
If you're purchasing a home, have a Pre-purchase Meth Test and Inspection written into your conditions of sale. This is a no-brainer when it comes to Mortgage re-possession properties. Stewarts Drug Testing can complete this testing and inspection for you.