Methamphetamine (most commonly referred to as meth) is a stimulant that is made from a combination of store-bought chemicals, with the most common ingredient being pseudoephedrine or ephedrine found in cold medicine. The drug is incredibly dangerous and is usually consumed through injecting, snorting, swallowing, or smoking it. Not only is the drug dangerous for those that consume it, but it can be toxic to make and leaves behind hazardous residue long after cooking and consumption if surfaces are not properly cleaned and decontaminated.

 Where can meth settle?

 During the cooking process and when someone smokes meth, the airborne residues and volatile organic compounds can settle on many surfaces. It’s important to note that when someone smokes meth, they inhale about 67% of it, with 33% still lingering in the environment. Different surfaces where the lingering smoke may be absorbed include walls, flooring, fabrics, carpets, countertops, upholstery, and more. Not only can the residue settle in the moment, but when these surfaces are disturbed, the residues can become airborne within the environment once again.

 When meth cooks, it releases vapors that, like meth smoke, can be absorbed by various items. These vapors may include toxic meth ingredients such as ether, lithium, ammonia, acetone, and pseudoephedrine. In addition to airborne hazards released by cooking and smoking meth, it’s incredibly easy for surfaces to become contaminated if they come into contact with the ingredients at any point whether by spills, cross contamination, or another method.

 Why is meth so dangerous?

 Even if you are not the one cooking or smoking meth directly, any exposure to the drug can be extremely dangerous. From short-term effects like increased blood pressure, faster breathing, and rapid or irregular heartbeat to long-term health risks like permanent heart and brain damage, high blood pressure leading to heart attacks, strokes, and death, and more, it’s clear that even small amounts of meth can cause harmful health effects. 

 How biohazard cleanup companies can help

It’s important to note that there is no safe physical contact with a meth manufacturing location or a frequently exposed meth location due to smoking and usage until after a biohazard cleanup company has decontaminated the entire area. Simply washing the surfaces with traditional methods won’t do enough to keep you and your family out of harm’s way. Your safety is a priority and if you feel you may be living in a home that was once a meth lab or has been the location of frequent meth usage it’s important to seek professional help.

 At Xtreme Cleaners, our team of experts are trained in handling sensitive situations and contaminated environments, like meth labs, with care and precision. We have a comprehensive process for assessing the biohazard impacts and damages caused by a lab or over exposure to meth and performing the decontamination work to restore a home to a habitable condition. If you need help cleaning a former meth lab that has not been properly decontaminated, or simply want information regarding how we can best assist, give us a call today at 1-800-524-9591.