Methamphetamine has several names and comes in many forms. Most commonly, dealers sell it as either a powder (crank) or in crystallized chunks (ice.) Crank is usually white or yellow. However, depending on the formula and ingredients, some cooks produce pink, green, and even black colored powders. These powders can be snorted, smoked, or ‘shot up.’ Ice, however, is usually smoked and looks a bit like shards of quartz. You may also hear it referred to as crystal, glass, or chalk.
Yaba is another form of meth, combined with caffeine, and a more recent introduction to the American party scene. It usually sells as brightly colored tablets and is snorted, smoked, or injected. Yaba is known as the madness drug and parallels many of the same symptoms of meth abuse.
All forms of meth have the potential to contaminate your home, vehicle, and other property. Their residue can also make you and your loved ones ill.
Is There Meth In My Home?
Obviously, there’s no way for us to confirm this through a single article. However, Utah was once a hotbed of meth labs (illicit operations that produce large quantities of meth). Since that residue can linger for decades, many homes remain contaminated, even without their owner’s knowledge. Moreover, mobile meth labs and the shake-and-bake method have made it much more difficult to identify when a cook took place. That can put even new homes and vehicles at risk for unexpected contamination.
Cooks are not the only way to contaminate a property, though. Even storing and smoking meth is enough to leave behind harmful residues. And sadly, visitors often smoke in homes without the owner’s knowledge. (We’ve seen homes contaminated by grandmothers, nieces, nephews, spouses, and more.) Indeed, meth addictions are more common than most people assume, with millions of Americans using each year.
Ultimately, the only way to know if there is meth in your home is to test. And the only way to remove it is through thorough decontamination. That’s why we recommend testing any time you suspect someone used in your home, when buying or selling a property, or when renting an apartment space. It is also wise when purchasing a vehicle or salvage title from an auction, or if a vehicle was stolen and returned to you.
For help with testing and decontamination, we recommend contacting a licensed professional, such as a Certified Decontamination Specialist. If you’re in Utah, feel free to call AEI Decon. We’re Utah’s number one resource for meth and mold removal. You can reach us at (801) 888-6698.