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Clandestine Laboratory Context and Overview

Clandestine Laboratory Context and Overview. John Howell – Senior Scientist Environmental Health Directorate. Presentation Content. Purpose Clandestine laboratory (clan lab) nature, risk & occurrence WA Health involvement Character of WA clan labs Q & A.

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Clandestine Laboratory Context and Overview

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  1. Clandestine Laboratory Context and Overview John Howell – Senior Scientist Environmental Health Directorate

  2. Presentation Content • Purpose • Clandestine laboratory (clan lab) nature, risk & occurrence • WA Health involvement • Character of WA clan labs • Q & A

  3. Purpose • To inform responsible agency officers, in particular LG EHOs, about the occurrence and character of clandestine drug laboratories (clan labs)

  4. What is a clan lab? • Hidden improvised laboratories manufacturing illegal drugs often from publically available source materials

  5. Why the public health concern? • People involved with an operational lab are at risk from toxic gases, surface residues & fires/explosions • “Busted” labs – WAPOL/ChemCentre remove bulk chemicals & equipment. But residual chemical contamination are a risk to current & future residents, especially children, possibly for years • Residues are usually meth deposited from an aerosol arising from heating or bubbling processes • Maybe only 1 in 10 labs are found!

  6. Clan lab occurrence • Local manufacture, ie a clan lab, is an attractive drug source, particularly if border controls are strong & raw materials available • The variety of possible production routes combined with internet information make prevention difficult • Numbers have increased greatly in Western countries led by the US • Have proliferated nationally over last 5 years, especially in Qld & WA metro & growth areas, possibly because of economic boom National Guidelines - 2011

  7. Clan Lab Management in WA DOH involvement prompted by: • Surge of clan lab activity • Public health significance (Health Act 1911) • LG EHO assistance requests • Local expertise (Paul Newell, DER) Basic Guidance 2010; Steering Group Interim Guidelines Oct 2012 Include: - Notification system - Assessment & clean-up guidance - Database and advice service

  8. Information Sources

  9. WA-Wide Clan Lab Occurrence (Sep 2012 – Aug 2013)

  10. Perth Area Clan Lab Occurrence (Sep 2012 – Aug 2013)

  11. Table 2– Detected Clan Labs by Drug, Production Type, Jurisdiction 2011 -12#

  12. Other features of WA labs (Sep 2012 – Aug 2013) • The predominant Nazi/Birch method is user based (small scale) & less contaminating • > 60% labs in residences, with recent increase in bush sites • 40% residential labs had children present (average 2) • 16% residential labs were Dept Housing properties • 10% of labs discovered due to fire/explosion • Large proportion of houses were rental properties • Sites also include bush, vacant land, caravans, vehicles, hotel/motel • 25% of the clan labs were of the higher Tier 2 risk rating

  13. Bush Lab Site

  14. Questions and Comments

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