The use of drugs, such as methamphetamine and fentanyl, can leave residue behind that other people may be exposed to if they enter the area. Residue means any form leftover from use whether visible or not, including pills, powder, vapor or smoke build-up, liquid, skin patches, and drug paraphernalia.
If you see evidence of drug manufacturing, distribution, or storage, contact your local law enforcement. Your local health officer will determine if the property is considered contaminated. For more information, see the Drug Lab Cleanup Program.
Health Effects
Exposure to residue has never been reported to cause death in adults. Documented health effects where use has occurred, such as rashes and headaches, are temporary and go away once those affected leave the exposure area. Younger children have a higher risk for unintentional exposure due to more contact with household surfaces through crawling and increased hand-to-mouth behavior.
Second-hand smoke or vapor from methamphetamine or fentanyl use has not been documented to cause an overdose. However, being around any vapor or smoke is unhealthy. If someone has vaporized or smoked anything (including tobacco) in an indoor public setting, you can help reduce negative health impacts by opening windows and doors to get rid of the vapor or smoke. Do not ventilate the area if you see powdered fentanyl, because this can cause the particles to resuspend into the air and increase your risk of breathing it in.
Decontamination Standards
Washington state has decontamination standards WAC 246-205-541 for methamphetamine, lead, mercury, and volatile organic carbons (VOCs), but not for fentanyl. The current Washington methamphetamine decontamination standard of 1.5 µg/100 cm2 is based on a health effect in people. The rule has separate decontamination standards for lead, mercury and VOCs to protect people from exposure to those chemicals that may be in drug labs.
Reduce Exposure to Drug Residue
If you encounter drug residue, there are steps you can take to reduce your exposure.
Test Methods
The only way to know the level of drug residue present is to get it tested.
Certified contractors are trained to test for drug residue. Contractors test a surface by taking wipe samples and sending them to an Ecology-accredited laboratory. See our list of certified Cleanup Companies.
You can also take and send samples to a lab for analysis if the property has not been declared contaminated by a local health officer. The Department of Ecology has a list of labs that are accredited to analyze for methamphetamine. There are no labs accredited by Ecology for fentanyl.
Field tests are also available that include strips for methamphetamine, fentanyl, or other drugs, as well as portable devices that detect multiple drugs using spectrometry. Field testing strips can be accurate and sensitive for the drug being tested, but do not tell you how much of the drug is there. Depending on the meth test strip, it will tell you if meth is present, but not if it’s above or below the state decontamination standard. If the meth test strip is sensitive to levels below the state decontamination standard, a positive result may not mean the area is unsafe. A fentanyl test strip may not test positive for fentanyl analogs. Fentanyl test strips may also give a false positive if meth is present instead of fentanyl. Spectrometers give more information on which drugs are present and their concentrations but can be less specific and sensitive and require more training to use properly. Using a certified contractor to test will give you more accurate results compared to using a field test or spectrometer due to these limitations.
Products
Some products have been tested for their effectiveness at removing or neutralizing (breaking down) methamphetamine or fentanyl. General cleaners are useful for removing the drugs from surfaces, but do not break down the drugs. This means the active drug may be in the wastewater or on the used cleaning materials, such as wipes. Neutralizing solutions break down methamphetamine and fentanyl and are more effective at removing residue from affected areas. However, neutralizing solutions can be difficult to use and require more personal protective equipment (PPE). We can’t recommend one product for everyone due to these limitations.
Always follow all product label instructions regarding proper dilution, application, rinsing procedures, and dwell time. Dwell time is how long a product must remain wet on a surface to be effective at cleaning.
There are highly variable data on products with hydrogen peroxide. They have been found to break down some methamphetamine and fentanyl, but the degradation is at a lower level and varies among products and studies. These products include some that are multi-part and require mixing, such as Apple Meth Remover and Bio-Oxygen Chem Decon. Other products with hydrogen peroxide do not require mixing, such as ZEP Professional Stain Remover with Peroxide and OxiClean. Because of the variability and the lower levels of degradation, we have included these products with cleaners that work by removal.
Bleach products can be dangerous to inhale if they are mixed with other cleaners, ammonia, or acids. For more information, see Dangers of Mixing Bleach with Cleaners.
Encapsulation
We don’t recommend encapsulating materials with a coat of paint. Encapsulation is when you apply a coat of paint to cover up the drug residue from the surface. EPA recommends encapsulation after the structure has been remediated (as confirmed by post-remediation testing if possible). Encapsulation is not recommended for areas that are not decontaminated (confirmed by testing) because meth can migrate through to the paint surface. If you choose this method, apply a primer followed by oil-based polyurethane paint. Note that oil-based paint is an inhalation hazard and can irritate your eyes, skin, and lungs, so follow personal protective equipment (PPE) instructions on the product label. Other oil-based paint or epoxies can be used if polyurethane paint is not accessible. Additional coats will increase coverage, and using a spray-on method is more effective at encapsulation than hand rolling or using brushes. Keep in mind that spraying requires training and PPE.
Vehicles
A vehicle may contain fentanyl or methamphetamine residue if it has been stolen and then recovered by law enforcement. Vehicles seized by law enforcement may also be found to contain fentanyl or methamphetamine residue. If a vehicle contains fentanyl residue, it likely also contains methamphetamine residue.
Our handout, Drug Residue in Vehicles (PDF) has information on drug residue in vehicles, decontamination by certified contractors, and DIY cleaning. Additional upcoming guidance includes further background information, including information on the Washington state laws and guidance on drug residue in vehicles. It also includes resources from federal and international agencies, as well as Washington state and other state statistics on stolen vehicles.
Clandestine Drug Laboratories
Clandestine Drug Labs (CDLs) are illegal drug manufacturing operations that can be setup in private homes, vehicles, and transient (temporary) accommodations such as hotels or motels. They can be set up using common household equipment and chemicals. High levels of illicit drugs, other hazardous substances, and increased risk of explosions make CDLs dangerous places. CDLs can also create large amounts of toxic waste in the environment. Testing and decontamination of CDLs and storage sites are regulated by Chapter 246-205 WAC and Chapter 64.44 RCW. If you suspect there is a methamphetamine lab on your property, contact your local health agency.
For more information and resources for testing and cleanup, see Drug Lab Cleanup Program.
More Resources
Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution
Interpretive Statement: Methamphetamine Use in Transient Accommodations (PDF)
Fentanyl Exposure in Public Places
Exposure to Fentanyl Contamination in the Workplace (PDF)
How to Respond to Fentanyl Contamination as an Employer (PDF)
Contaminated Vehicle, Boat, or Manufactured Home - Department of Licensing