Second Hand meth

As  a property contamination detection company we are often contacted by people wanting to know about the effects of meth smoke on them from 2nd hand smoking.

Note that this is different from a house that has contamination from historic or even recent drug use or manufacture. This blog is talking about being in the presence of a drug user and a cloud of meth smoke (gas).

The fact is that up to 90% of the chemicals contained in the meth users inhalation is retrained by their body upon exhalation. You, in the 2nd hand smoke, are receiving around 10% of the chemicals upon direct inhalation of their out breath.

This "cloud" of exhalation is dispersed rapidly as the product "cools, condenses and falls" meaning the gas, then forms microscopic liquid droplets which then harden into a crystal.   

So, to answer some of your questions surrounding this:

Can you get "high" off the cloud? - Yes, although reduced in its level of harmful drugs, the "cloud of meth" can still affect you. If you are in the presence of someone using meth, our advice is to leave.

What does this mean for your health? - Well, whilst you can "get high" off that smoke, the level varies just like drinking; one beer is too much for some, and it's ten beersies for others. So if you inhale enough of it, you will start to feel the effects.  However, unlike alcohol, meth use can be incredibly physiologically addictive. Any inhalation can result in a lifetime of addiction.  

Is direct inhalation dangerous? - Yes. You may have seen in the movies a "Shotgun" where the drug user inhales the drug, then "blows" it directly into another persons mouth whilst they inhale.  That is a direct attempt to "get high" and is portably not best practice if you come across a random drug user.  If you "stumble" across a room off meth smokers, your best bet is to leave as soon as you can and avoid deep inhalation.   

Will this get me addicted? - Possibly yes, it depends on the volume and your intentions. But direct inhalation of meth smoke is essentially drug use. Steer clear of it and leave if someone is using around you. 

Remember, this is about inhaling the "smoke" breathed out by a meth user, not about breathing in off gassing from a property that has contamination through meth use over time. Note that the difference between body types, smokers vs non-smokers, your personal level of medical wellness or health conditions and air quality (ventilation, etc) all play a role in determining how much smoke (gas) you will inhale just from regular breathing. 

You are not going to get addicted to meth use if you live in a house with meth contamination. The approach to contamination in New Zealand uses detection of methamphetamines and pre-cursor chemicals to determine the presence or absence of methamphetamines. But this is really about detecting high levels of substances that are hazardous to your health over time. Heavy Metals and Acids play a role in the production and subsequent gases produced by the manufacture of this drug embed themselves in the surfaces of the dwelling, clothing, furniture etc, overtime. 

These then off gas into your breathable air overtime potentially causing new health conditions and exacerbating existing ones. So rest assured that addiction from living in a meth house is not going to happen, but other, unforeseeable health conditions may occur from the absorption and inhalation of heavy metals and other chemicals from the manufacture and use of methamphetamines.