Management of clandestine drug laboratories: need for evidence-based environmental health policies

Abstract

Clandestine drug laboratories (CDLs) have been emerging and increasing as a public health problem in Australia, with methamphetamine being the dominant illegally manufactured drug. However, management and remediation of contaminated properties are still limited in terms of regulation and direction, especially in relation to public and environmental health practice. Therefore, this review provides an update on the hazards and health effects associated with CDLs, with a specific look at the management of these labs from an Australian perspective. Particularly, the paper attempts to describe the policy landscape for management of CDLs, and identifies current gaps and how further research may be utilised to advance understanding and management of CDLs and inform public health policies. The paper highlights a significant lack of evidence-based policies and guidelines to guide regulatory authority including environmental health officers in Australia. Only recently, the national Clandestine Drug Laboratory Guidelines were developed to assist relevant authority and specialists manage and carry out investigations and remediation of contaminated sites. However, only three states have developed state-based guidelines, some of which are inadequate to meet environmental health requirements. The review recommends well-needed inter-sectoral collaborations and further research to provide an evidence base for the development of robust policies and standard operating procedures for safe and effective environmental health management and remediation of CDLs.

Fig. 1

General process for site investigation and reporting under the Australian Government Clandestine Drug Laboratory Remediation Guidelines (sourced from Newell et al. [38]). The figure shows the four phases in the notification and remediation process that are recommended to be followed by the various agencies involved in clandestine drug laboratory remediation

Fig. 2

Flowchart of the notification process of illegal drug laboratories in Western Australia (sourced from WA Health [39]). The figure shows that the procedure begins with notification by the Western Australia Police and also outlines what is to be done for tier 1 (during office hours) and tier 2 (outside of office hours) notifications

Fig. 3

Victoria Department of Health flow chart for remediation of clandestine drug laboratory sites (sourced from Victoria Department of Health [41]). The flow chart outlines the Victoria Department of Health procedures, general roles of EHOs, other agencies and property owners and the decision-making process for remediation of clandestine drug laboratory sites