If you believe a home you rent or own has previously been used as a meth lab, you’re probably wondering how long the drug residue will last – and how to test for it!  

In Australia, the most commonly produced illicit drug is methylamphetamine and it’s believed only a small percentage of the illegal labs where it’s made are uncovered. 

In this blog we share information about how long meth residue may persist, talk more about the potential health risks associated with meth contamination, and outline our testing services.  

How Long Does Drug Residue Last? 

According to the enHealth Guidance on: Clandestine Drug Laboratories and Public Health Risks; “Methylamphetamine (including its salt) is usually the main contaminant after its production has ceased and can persist as a surface residue for months or years (Martyny, JW 2008a).” 

“These residues deposit onto all surfaces, both porous and non-porous. Contamination absorbed into porous materials, including gyprock walls, may desorb over time (Li 2014; Poppendieck, Morrison & Corsi 2015).” 

Risks Associated with Meth Residue Exposure  

The long-term exposure of residual chemical contamination produced by clan labs, where methylamphetamine is produced, can pose a risk to human health, the Queensland Government says.  

“Children, possibly numbering hundreds per year, are likely to be the most at-risk population exposed to contaminants associated with “discovered” clan labs. The number of children at risk in undiscovered labs may be ten-fold higher,” the enHealth Guidance on: Clandestine Drug Laboratories and Public Health Risks states. 

“Based on contaminant level and exposure studies in Australia and New Zealand it is likely that a reasonable proportion of exposed children and adults will suffer at least minor behavioural, psychological or physiological health effects. The frequency and severity will increase with the nature, level and duration of such exposure.” 

According to this enHealth publication, 379 clandestine laboratories (sites where illegal drugs are manufactured) were uncovered in Queensland in 2011/12, 330 in 2012/13, 340 in 2013/14 and 236 in 2014/15.  

While the publication states that there has been a decline in detection rates since 2011/12 it also says, “for the hundreds of detected labs, there will be many thousands more clan labs that may never be identified and will continue to operate until eventually abandoned.” 

Meth Contamination in Australian Properties 

In Australia, the majority of clandestine laboratories (68.4%) are in or adjacent to domestic dwellings. 

“The manufacture of ATS (i.e. methylamphetamine) still dominates clan lab detections in Australia, where the drug involved is known (82.5% for 2014-15),” the enHealth publication says.   

It adds that wet areas like kitchens, laundries and bathrooms are often used for manufacturing or cooking in domestic dwellings due to their surface areas and close proximity to sinks, electricity and water.  

It also states that contamination can be transient or residual and is level and spread of contamination is dependent a range of factors including processes and methods utilised, duration and frequency of operation and the scale of the lab.  

“There will always be some contamination associated with a clan lab operation, and in most cases, it will persist in buildings as methylamphetamine residues. These residues will also be present from the smoking of ice, although normally to a much lesser extent,” the publication states. 

Source: enHealth Guidance on: Clandestine Drug Laboratories and Public Health Risks states. 

Meth Testing your Brisbane Home or Rental Property 

If you suspect a property has been used as a clandestine lab then it should be tested for meth contamination. 

Clandestine Drug Laboratory Remediation Guidelines says: “Any dwelling, within which a clandestine laboratory has been detected should be considered potentially unfit for human habitation until such time as appropriate investigation can determine the presence or absence of contamination.” 

At Moreton Bay Clean Air Solutions, we have three meth residue testing alternatives.  

1. Instant test: We take 3 samples from your property and give you an immediate result.  

2. Composite Lab Test: Samples are taken from up to 10 different rooms within a property. They are analysed together and an average residue reading is given. 

3. Comprehensive Lab Test: up to 10 samples are collected from the property and each one is analysed individually.  

For more information about our meth residue and contamination testing, click here or call our friendly technicians on 0408 551 988.