Healthy Homes - Methamphetamine
Why is Methamphetamine a health issue?
The abuse and manufacture of illegal methamphetamine continues to be a statewide problem in Tennessee. Law enforcement agencies across the state continue to discover places where meth has been made ranging from single-family homes, rental properties, hotel and motel rooms, automobiles and other vehicles. No matter where these laboratories are created or used, they all leave behind hazardous residue, which poses a threat to human health. In many cases, this methamphetamine residue renders a property 'Unsafe for Human Use' and can be found on hard surfaces, like walls, furniture, appliances and ceiling fans, and soft surfaces, such as carpets, drapes, bedding, clothing, and toys.
What about former meth labs and homes?
Unfortunately, some people make methamphetamine or other drugs inside their home. As this is a criminal offense, the meth makers will be arrested and property owners will be responsible for clean-up costs. Making meth is dangerous. It involves the use of hazardous and flammable chemicals. Invisible residues leftover from meth making can pollute the inside of a house.
Before you rent a property, you can check TDEC’s Registry of Contaminated Properties or TBI’s Meth Offender Registry Database to see if there are any criminal meth lab connections to the property. Also, it may be helpful to talk with nearby residents who may know about past activities at the property you are considering to rent.
Additional resources
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC)
Meth Contamination
https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/rem-remediation/meth.html
Registry of Properties under Order of Quarantine
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/environment/remediation/documents/meth/rem_meth-quarantined-properties.pdf
Tennessee Dangerous Drug Task Force
Meth & Pharmaceutical Task Force
http://www.rid-meth.org
Meth Free Tennessee
Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference
http://www.methfreetn.org/
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
Drug Offender Registry Database
https://apps.tn.gov/methor/
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Voluntary Guidelines for Methamphetamine Laboratory Cleanup:
www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadpdfe.pdf
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Methamphetamine
https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/methamphetamine