Testing or cleaning a house for drug contamination
If you suspect a property is being used to manufacture illegal drugs or you are concerned that someone has smoked drugs inside your home, follow the Department of Health's guidance for testing or clean-up.
These activities can cause damage to the building or potential contamination from harmful chemical residues that can remain on surfaces.
The level of contamination and the type of testing and clean-up that is recommended will depend on the drug activity that has occurred.
Common sources of drug contamination include:
Clandestine drug laboratories (clan labs)
These are places where illegal drugs, such as methylamphetamine (meth / ice) or MDMA, are manufactured or ‘cooked’.
Contamination from a clan lab is considered a high risk to public health. They can create high levels of invisible chemical residues that remain throughout a house and may cause health risks to people who move into the property.
People who have been exposed to clan lab (particularly meth) contamination have shown changes in behaviour, trouble sleeping and breathing problems, and contamination risks are considered serious for vulnerable people such as young children, pregnant women and the elderly.
Strict testing and cleaning by suitably qualified testing and remediation (clean-up) companies is required if a clan lab is found at a property.
Clan labs are not as common as houses where drugs like meth have been smoked inside.
Drug smoke houses
These are houses where drugs such as meth have been smoked inside.
However, the level of contamination from smoking will depend on how much and how often drugs were smoked.
The only way to find out the level of contamination is to test for residues using a qualified testing company.
Where high chemical residues are detected following testing and the contamination is suspected to be from extensive drug smoking inside the property, it is strongly recommended that homeowners undertake remediation works using a suitably qualified remediation company.
Cannabis grow houses
A grow house is typically a house used to grow a crop of cannabis (marijuana) for sale rather than smoking or manufacturing activities. The structural alterations/damage to the house can be extensive and may require repairs to comply with building standards.
Testing and cleaning contamination
If you suspect or know that there has been a clan lab or drug smoking inside a property you are responsible for, it is recommended that you hire the services of qualified professionals to:
- test for drug residues
- remediate (clean and decontaminate) if testing shows residues above health investigation levels
- validate (re-testing) to show evidence the house is safe before anyone else moves in.
To help you understand the recommended remediation (clean up) process, read:
Choosing the right company
Use the Checklist for hiring companies to test or clean-up drug contamination (PDF 500KB) to help choose a reliable testing and cleaning company and understand what level of cleaning is needed.
Reporting illegal drug activities
Any suspected illegal drug activities should be reported to WA Police (external site) or Crime Stoppers (external site).
More information
For general information or advice on illegal drug residues in the home, contact the Environmental Health Directorate on 9222 2000 or by email to clanlabs@health.wa.gov.au
Last reviewed: 20-05-2026
Acknowledgements
Environmental Health
This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Information about a service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace professional advice. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified professional for answers to their questions.