Drug Paraphernalia Screening

Laboratory Tested. Informative. Dependable.

Although many property owners believe that knowing a property’s history is sufficient to rule out contamination, unfortunately, that is not always the case. Methamphetamine, nicotine, and marijuana can all leave residue behind without anyone being aware of it – whether from prior drug use, smoking or vaping indoors, or, in the case of marijuana, cultivation. A casual walkthrough rarely reveals any of it. Testing can be a prudent step, particularly if there are concerns about potential exposure, an unknown occupancy history, or a purchase or lease agreement on the horizon. It ensures that the information you receive about a property is accurate and up-to-date. We offer screening for methamphetamine, nicotine, and marijuana (THC) – individually or together.

Understanding Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine use remains widespread. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 2.6 million Americans aged 12 or older — roughly 0.9% of that population — used methamphetamine in the past year. That number has held steady in recent years even as the drug itself has grown more potent and more dangerous. All of this means that proper testing is the only way to know for sure if meth has found its way into the home or commercial building. Meth testing is not only a good idea but also a responsible one.

Additionally, meth residue is dangerous. It’s also odorless and presents without any visual signs. As such, neglecting to test puts occupants at undue risk. In fact, many nations require testing before the purchase of a home, commercial property, or the signing of a lease due to these very concerns. Through this lens, testing is simply the wisest course for all involved.

Understanding Nicotine

Nicotine leaves its mark long after the last cigarette is stubbed out or the last vape is exhaled. Many owners assume that if a property doesn’t smell like smoke, or if it’s been aired out and wiped down, any trace of tobacco is gone. That assumption doesn’t hold up. Nicotine and the chemicals that travel with it settle into walls, carpet, cabinetry, and ductwork, where they can linger for months or even years after anyone has smoked or vaped in the space.

Tobacco use also remains widespread. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2022, nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults (about 49 million people) used a tobacco product, and adult vaping has continued to climb year over year. With numbers like that, there’s a real chance a previous occupant smoked or vaped indoors, often with no disclosure to the buyer or next tenant.

The residue itself is the hazard. Known as thirdhand smoke, it clings to surfaces and reacts with common indoor air to form cancer-causing compounds that off-gas back into the room over time. It resists ordinary cleaning, can seep through fresh coats of paint, and can’t be cleared just by opening windows or running a fan. Children are especially vulnerable, because they crawl on the floor, touch surfaces, and put their hands in their mouths. Because the contamination is invisible and easy to overlook, testing is the responsible step for protecting everyone who will live or work in the building.

Understanding Marijuana (THC)

Marijuana has moved firmly into the mainstream, and that shift has quietly changed what may be hiding in a property. There are really two concerns: someone smoking or vaping heavily indoors, and – less obvious but far more damaging – a room or building that was used to grow cannabis. Both leave contamination behind, and neither is something a casual walkthrough will reveal.

Use is now remarkably common. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 2023 national survey, about 61.8 million Americans (21.8% of people aged 12 or older) used marijuana in the past year, and 43.6 million used it in the past month. By the end of 2023, more than half the U.S. population lived in a state that had legalized marijuana for adults. As cultivation and consumption become more common, so does the likelihood that a given property has been affected.

The hazards go well beyond residue on the walls. THC settles onto indoor surfaces much like other smoke, but the greater risk comes from indoor grow operations. To force rapid plant growth, these setups create warm, humid conditions that fuel extensive mold, along with moisture intrusion and structural damage that often stay hidden inside walls, ceilings, and ventilation systems. Growers also introduce fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals, and sometimes alter electrical systems in unsafe ways that create fire risk, while homemade THC extraction using butane has caused fires and explosions. Surface testing for THC can document that a building was used to grow marijuana, flagging contamination and damage before they become someone else’s problem.