Part A - Society for Public Health Education

Information SheetHelping Communities CombatClandestine Methamphetamine LaboratoriesPart A: An Educational Toolkit for Health EducatorsInformation on Property Owners,Landlords, and Real Estate AgentsMethamphetamine’s Impact on Property Owners,Landlords, and Real Estate AgentsClandestine methamphetamine laboratories (clan meth labs) and dump sites forby-products from methamphetamine (meth) production can be found anywhereand everywhere in rural, urban, and suburban areas—outdoors or in houses, apartments,trailers, storage sheds, barns, hotels, motel units, and even cars—and theysignificantly affect large and small property owners, landlords, and real estateagents in the following ways.Personal Safety and Safety of Others© 2007 Society for Public Health EducationA typical meth lab consists of readily available equipment (e.g., bottles, hoses, glassjars, and tubing); toxic, poisonous, and volatile products (e.g., muratic acid, lye,brake fluid, drain cleaners, ethyl ether, anhydrous ammonia, and red phosphorus);and over-the-counter cold medicines containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine.The use of hazardous chemicals in the production, or “cooking,” of meth can causeexplosions and fires, give off poisonous fumes, and create toxic waste contaminationin the environment.Additionally, the meth cook and user pose a threat to personal safety. Meth usersoften exhibit paranoid or delusional behavior. As a result, meth users may possessweapons, set booby traps to cause harm to someone entering the lab, or have viciousdogs ready to attack an intruder. Meth users also may exhibit aggressive and violentbehavior. The health and safety of not just the cook is at risk; anyone living in themeth lab (especially children), first responders and law enforcement agents, neighbors,and anyone who enters the property are also at risk.Part A: An Educational Toolkit for Health Educators23