Copyright © 2003-2009
Polk County Health Center
Bolivar, Missouri.
All rights reserved.

PCHC Disclaimer Statement

Environmental Health - Meth Testing

If you are interested in having your home tested, please contact the Polk County Health Center Environmental Department for further information.

• 417-326-7250
• 

The cost per test is $50.00. One of our trained environmental staff must perform the test for businesses, homes, etc. but the property owner must authorize the test. A signed form and application (MethRequest.pdf) must be filled out. The test takes approximately 1 hour to complete.

Guidelines for Cleaning up Former Methamphetamine Labs

MethLabCleanupGuidelines.pdf

What is Meth?

Methamphetamine or meth (also known as "crank", "speed", "crystal", or "ice") is the most prevalent synthetic drug manufactured in the United States and the fastest growing drug market. It can be injected, ingested, snorted, or smoked. It is typically distributed as a white, odorless, bitter tasting, easily dissolvable powder, or in large, clear, chunky crystals that are smoked.

The initial short, intense "rush" that a meth user experiences is followed by up to 8 hours of euphoria. Physiologically, meth increases heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and body temperature. If often produces extra stamina, energy, libido, a sense of invulnerability, and decreased appetite. Chronic abusers may exhibit nervousness, paranoia, irritability, insomnia, confusion, disorientation, and schizophrenia-like symptoms. They may become erratic or violent near the end of a binge.

Meth is highly addictive; central nervous system stimulant produced using chemicals that are extracted from readily accessible products. The most common include over the counter cold remedies and diet pills, and household products like lithium camera batteries, matches, hydrogen peroxide, and tincture of iodine. The mixture often includes flammable products such as lighter fluid, gasoline, rubbing alcohol, kerosene, paint thinner and mineral spirits. It may also include corrosive materials such as sodium hydroxides from lye-based drain cleaners, muriatic acid used in gardening, pools and spas, and sulfuric acid from batteries. In rural areas, farmers often find that their anhydrous ammonia fertilizer tanks have been tapped y meth manufacturers.

Exposure levels can trigger a variety of possible symptoms. Low levels can produce headaches, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. High levels can produce shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, dizziness, lack of coordination, eye and tissue irritation, chemical burns, and death. Chronic levels can produce cancer, damage to the brain, liver, kidneys, spleen and immune system as well as birth defects.

Normal cleaning procedures will not remove meth and some of its chemical components, so they may remain on cooking and eating utensils, countertops, and floors. Byproducts of the manufacture are often improperly disposed of outdoors and may endanger children who live, eat or play at the site.

Children Exposed to Methamphetamine Lab Sites: Psychosocial Hazards

Children living in or exposed to methamphetamine manufacturing sites ("meth labs" or "meth houses") are at increased risk of:

• Severe neglect
• Physical and sexual abuse from their families and from other individuals living at or frequenting the site.
• Witnessing violence
• Unsanitary and dangerous living conditions
• Social and behavioral problems

Parents who are meth users often become careless, irritable, paranoid, and violent. They are often unable to care for or protect their children. They may neglect to provide for essentials such as food, sleeping accommodations, proper hygiene, and medical and dental care. Children may be left to care for each other or to care for an incapacitated parent. Meth-abusing parents may sleep for days at a time, increasing the risk that their children will be exposed to hazards. Children may witness acts of violence, be forced to participate in acts of violence, or witness their parents being arrested.

Meth houses are often filthy. Loaded firearms are typically within easy reach. There may be explosives and booby traps set to deter law enforcement. They may be located in substandard structures with dangerous electrical wiring. Inhalant exposures may be increased due to poor ventilation; it is common fro windows to be sealed to prevent odors from escaping. The may lack heating, cooling, running water, electricity, and refrigeration. They can be infested with rats, cockroaches, lice, fleas, and other rodents and insects. Animals may be allowed to urinate and defecate inside. Meth houses have been discovered where cigarette butts, cast-off needles, syringes, pipes, and condoms litter the floor, and garbage is strewn throughout. Similar items have been found in cribs and playpens. Plumbing is often backed up and overflowing because the "cook" dumped corrosive chemicals down the toilet or drains. Baby bottles have been found stored amount toxic chemicals, and chemical products have been stored in food containers, juice and soft drink bottles, and cooking utensils. Infants have been found with meth powder on their toys, clothes, bare feet and hands. Unsanitary conditions, needle exposures, and unprotected sex can introduce E. Coli, Hepatitis A, B, C and HIV.

Children living in meth manufacturing environments may experience stress and trauma, attachment disorder, shame, poor self esteem, and develop poor social skills. They are at increased risk for emotional and mental health problems, school absence, isolation, teen pregnancy, delinquency, and substance abuse.

Children Exposed to Methamphetamine Lab Sites: Assessment and Treatment

Children are occasionally discovered to be residing in or otherwise exposed to methamphetamine lab sites ("meth labs" or "meth houses"). These children face acute health and safety risks, including abuse and neglect. Firearms are often present. Health care providers can be instrumental in determining whether these exposures have had any harmful effects and whether a child might need acute medical intervention.

The manufacture of methamphetamine includes and increased risk of hazards like explosions and fires. Normal age-related behaviors of young children (such as frequent hand to mouth contact with their environment) increase their chances of inhaling, ingesting, or absorbing toxic chemicals, drugs, or contaminated foods. They inhale the second hand smoke of adults using meth; they can absorb meth and its constituent toxins from spills on household surfaces; they can receive an accidental skin prick or injection from discarded drug paraphernalia; they can become ill after directly ingesting chemicals. Their physiological characteristics (such as higher respiratory and metabolic rates, increased skin surface to body mass ration, and a developing central nervous system) leave them far more vulnerable to the effects of toxic exposures. A developing fetus is at particular risk.