The Effects of Third Hand Exposure to Methamphetamine Contamination.

Exposure to methamphetamine is a serious health issue regardless of how that exposure came about. In earlier blogs we have talked about what 1st hand, 2nd hand and 3rd hand exposure is. Here in this blog we are detailing the results of research into the health effects of 3rd hand exposure. The researchers at Flinders University in Adelaide are at the forefront of this research and concluded their report *1 by stating that “There were no discernible differences in exposures or health effects reported in properties contaminated from former manufacture or use." This is concerning because at present most governments are only interested in 'clan labs' (where the drug is manufactured) and not 'smokehouses' (where the drug is used), this leaves those who find themselves the innocent victim of meth contamination of their home by a previous occupant with absolutely no rights and no support.

Below is an extract from an affidavit prepared by Dr Jackie Wright in 2021 for a case heard in the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. In the affidavit Dr Wright surmised the effects of third hand exposure to methamphetamine contamination from the Exposures Study *1. This study was the winner of the Best Case Study ANZPAA 2020. (Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency - National Institute of Forensic Science).

Dr Wright has over 20 years’ experience in human health and environmental risk assessment in Australia and is the Principal/Director at Environmental Risk Sciences Pty Ltd

Extract:

37. Significantly, only six participants did not report any health effects that specifically related to their time spent at the property in question. Of the recorded health effects:

a. The most common effects included:

i. Skin irritation or rashes – 55% of children; 56% of adults 21 years and older.

ii. Eye irritation (such as sore or watering eyes) 55% of children; 59% of adults 21 years and older.

iii. Respiratory effects (such as a persistent cough, asthma or asthma like symptoms) 62% of children; 53% of adults 21 years and older.

iv. Immune effects (such as chronic or constant sinus or respiratory infections) 24% of children; 32% of adults 21 years and older.

v. Headaches - 7% of children; 47% of adults 21 years and older.

vi. Sleep issues (such as difficulty sleeping and unusual dreams) 72% of children; 68% of adults 21 years and older.

vii. Behavioural and cognitive effects (such as fatigue or tiredness, increase aggression or irritability, depression, anxiety or moodiness, vagueness or not thinking clearly or memory issues) - 79% of children; 65% of adults 21 years and older.

viii. Exacerbation of pre-existing conditions - 7% of children; 21% of adults 21 years and older.

b. Less common effects included dental issues, particularly the delayed development of teeth in young children; speech delay in children; weight loss; loss of hair; having extra or excess energy; visual changes; dizziness and nausea; and increased blood pressure and tachycardia.

c. Two participants suffered such severe health effects (headaches in an adult and asthma in a child) that they were hospitalised.

38. Importantly, of the most common effects suffered by participants set out above, all but the behavioural or cognitive (and pre-existing conditions) resolved within hours, days or weeks of moving out of the property in question.

The exposures study is a major scientific study, it is recent, it is peer reviewed and is an award winning study that Governments need to be giving serious attention to. The issues and case studies in this report and the continued research by this dedicated group of scientists is ground breaking research and highlights the extent of the problem, especially for innocent families who find themselves in a meth contaminated home.

*1 “Environmental Methamphetamine Exposures and Health Effects in 25 Cases Studies” by Jackie Wright, Michaela Kenneally, Kirsten Ross and Stewart Walker. Published in Toxics 20 August 2020.

Winner of the Best Case Study ANZPAA 2020. (Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency - National Institute of Forensic Science)