Local government response to illicit drug contamination

The manufacturing of illicit drugs in and around a property can damage the building or contaminate surfaces with harmful chemical residues. These impacts may pose a health and safety risk to occupants or visitors to the property.

Clandestine drug laboratories (commonly known as 'clan labs')

Methamphetamine (meth), MDMA, heroin or synthetic opioid clan labs are considered a high risk to public health. These risks are documented in the enHealth guidance on clandestine drug laboratories and public health risks (external site) and are considered serious for vulnerable people such as young children, pregnant women, and the elderly.

People who have been exposed to clan lab (particularly meth) contamination have shown changes in behaviour, trouble sleeping, and breathing problems.

Drug smoke houses

Drug smoke houses are generally considered a lower risk to public health. These risks are documented in the Report on the residues associated with smoking methylamphetamine (meth) (PDF 1MB) which indicates that drug smoke houses are more common than clan labs with generally lower levels of surface residue contamination. The Department of Health published a position statement (PDF 174KB) reiterating that the public health risks from drug smoke houses are generally lower than those from clan labs.

Properties where drugs have only been smoked indoors typically have much lower surface chemical residues than properties where drugs have been manufactured. However, the level of contamination from smoking will depend on how much and how often drugs were smoked.

The only way to determine the level of contamination is to test for residues using a qualified testing company.

Where high chemical residues are detected following testing and the contamination is suspected to be from extensive drug smoking inside the property, it is strongly recommended that homeowners undertake remediation works using a suitably qualified remediation company. Remediation is usually less expensive and intensive for a drug smoke house compared to the remediation required for a clan lab.

If a local government receives a notification or complaint about possible drug residue at a property, and there is no suspicion or evidence of a clan lab, the contamination is most likely caused by drugs being smoked in the property.

The WA Police through their investigations find clan labs and may seize equipment and other items as evidence to support any legal proceedings.

As part of an agreement between the WA Police and the Department of Health’s Environmental Health Directorate, the WA Police will notify the Department of Health of clan lab locations and request the Department of Health to coordinate a response to manage any public health risks. The Department of Health reviews the case and then refers details on to the local government environmental health services for a response.

In accordance with the objectives of the Public Health Act 2016 (the Public Health Act), local governments have responsibilities for the protection, promotion and improvement of public health and wellbeing and the prevention of preventable illness.

The public health risks associated with clan labs, where meth or other high-risk drug contamination is present, warrant action by local government to ensure property owners make their properties safe for the building’s occupants.