Methamphetamine (meth) is a powerful, highly toxic, addictive drug that is illegally “cooked” in makeshift labs. Meth can be found in the form of pills, capsules, powder, or chunks; it can be smoked, snorted, injected, or eaten.
Clandestine drug labs are found in all neighborhoods, and in most of our cities and towns. From manufactured homes to new houses to recreational vehicles, methamphetamine drug labs can be set up and taken down in hours, leaving a contaminated site unfit for occupation. When a drug lab is discovered, the homeowner is responsible for the costs of decontamination. Rental properties are at significant risk for being used as a drug lab.
When ACT is called to a suspected clandestine drug lab property, we perform pre-decontamination sampling to determine the degree of contamination. After the results come back from the lab, the health department is notified, and decontamination may begin. ACT removes all contaminated materials from the house including carpets and appliances. Through state-of-the-art procedures, the ceilings, walls, and floor surfaces are cleaned and disinfected, and all contamination is removed. Post decontamination sampling is done on the site to ensure that proper decontamination has occurred.
Properties can become contaminated by sale or distribution. Most problems that we see today are from usage in rental properties or stolen vehicles and property transactions where the buyer of a property is informed by neighbors that the property was once a “drug house.”