Why Meth Testing Is So Important

What is meth testing?

Meth is short for methamphetamine, a drug known as crystal meth or P.

The drug is made using several ingredients that are extremely harmful to humans. During the process of making it or using it, meth releases residue into walls and surfaces. 

Meth testing is a way of determining if methamphetamine has been or is being made or used in a property.

Why it’s important to do meth testing

There are three key reasons why testing is so important:

1. It is dangerous to your health

When the crystal that is used in the making of the drug is heated, it vaporises and releases chemicals. These are highly poisonous to humans.

You don’t need to use the drug to be affected by these poisonous chemicals. They are absorbed by surfaces such as walls, furniture, carpets and curtains. You can be affected by harmful toxins by being near these surfaces.

Some common, serious health issues related to being exposed to meth or meth contamination include:

• headaches
• dizziness
• nausea
• fatigue
• respiratory problems, asthma
• other neurological issues
• effects on brain development
• chronic illnesses

2. Meth will damage a property

The drug can cause severe damage to a property. If you don’t test for it, left undetected the contamination can become very costly to remove.

Sometimes, it may be necessary to strip out all the internal materials and structures that have absorbed the drug. This will likely incur great expenses that you can avoid if you test early.

The contamination is not visible and does not leave an odour. So it is important to test for it regularly if you manage or rent a property. Having meth testing before you buy or sell a property can save you thousands of dollars in repair bills.

3. It can cause other problems for tenants and landlords

In New Zealand, meth contamination is a problem more commonly found in rented properties. This includes residential as well as commercial properties.

If you are a tenant considering renting a property, it’s important to know before signing any agreement whether the property has any contamination. If you are a landlord, it’s imperative that you know whether any property you own is contaminated by the drug.

Tenants, landlords, buyers, sellers, and property managers must understand the dangers of contamination. There has been some disagreement in NZ about what levels of meth contamination are acceptable. In our opinion, all properties should be tested for contamination. Any property showing signs of contamination, no matter how low, should be appropriately cleaned and decontaminated.

RAMS Cleaning Services are highly-trained and certified Meth Testers

At RAMS Cleaning Services, our employees are highly-trained and certified under the NZQA to determine and test for methamphetamine residue on a property.

We are certified for two types of meth testing – Presumptive Testing and Laboratory Testing. We can accurately and quickly advise you on the most suitable type of screening for your property.

Contact the friendly team at RAMS Cleaning Services, and we can help you decide what type of meth testing is suitable for your property.