Online Database of Busted â€œMeth Housesâ€ Before Investing or Buying

Posted at October 9, 2006

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Health officials in a handful of states are warning home-buyers and renters to check an online database of busted “meth houses” to make sure they don’t move into a contaminated former drug lab.

The state estimates cleanup costs of $15,000 to $30,000 to decontaminate a 2,000-square-foot house.

Known for its high rate of addiction and severe side effects, which include rotten teeth and increased risk of heart, lung and liver disease, meth easily can be made with over-the-counter cold medication, household chemicals and a hot plate or burner. Every pound of meth cooked results in up to five to seven pounds of toxic chemical wastes that pose serious health and environmental hazards, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

It’s illegal in 12 states (Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington) for anyone to live in a former meth house before it’s been decontaminated, according to the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws, a congressionally funded nonprofit that helps states set drug laws.

Here are a few databases for Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington.