JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sick kids, thousands of dollars in cleanup costs and a home you may be forced to abandon: That's the horrifying reality for thousands of Americans who unwittingly buy homes or rent apartments contaminated with toxic meth residue.
"I feel like I put them in harm's way more so than I ever could have just staying where we were. I regret moving so bad," said homeowner Jennifer Nugent.
She and her husband spent thousands of dollars remodeling their home before moving in with their three children last year. A few months later, they were constantly sick: coughing, diarrhea and vomiting. But they they couldn't figure out why they were so ill.
"It just got to a point where we couldn't stay well," Nugent added.
Her concern turned to panic when her new neighbors shared some disturbing news. The home's former owner was a methamphetamine user. Nugent immediately had her home tested and results confirmed high levels of contamination.
"That's when we knew it was bad, and I was so grateful we did not return," she said.
When making or smoking meth, nothing escapes contamination. A string of toxic chemicals saturates carpets, walls, duct work, ceilings and furniture, forcing cleanup crews to throw away just about everything before thoroughly cleaning all surfaces. Exposure to even small amounts of those poisons can cause serious health issues, especially in small children.
"If you just think mold's bad, meth is worse. And I mean mold's pretty bad, and asbestos, yeah sure, but meth is up there," warned certified meth inspector Rick Held.
Authorities discovered more than 11,000 meth labs across the country in 2013, but say that represents only a fraction of the number of homes where meth is made or used. (See map of labs across the country from January 2014 to July 2014.)
"The police, they're trying to bust them all, but not everybody's busted. Sort of like this house. It wasn't busted. It's not on a list," added Held.
News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith said it doesn't matter what part of town, no one can assume it's free of meth users or meth makers.
"Meth labs can be anywhere," said Smith. "They have actually caught people cooking meth in urban settings, and upper-income homes, lower-income homes, sort of a wide variety of places where meth labs have occurred."
Experts said to protect yourself, ask questions of the real estate agent before you buy. While there is no law in Florida or Georgia requiring a seller to tell you a home had previous meth contamination, the State of Florida does require disclosing of "all known facts that materially affect the value of residential real estate property and are not readily observable." Meth contamination could be considered just that.
Another way to get information is to get out into the neighborhood where you are looking to buy or rent and start asking questions.
"Knock on doors. Introduce yourself as looking at the house down the street and find out what you can. You'll be amazed at the information they may be able to provide you," advised Angie Hick, founder of Angie's List.
The Nugents moved out and are now working with a certified company that specializes in meth lab testing and cleanup.
If you suspect meth residue in your home, you can call in a professional for testing. Some companies also promote a do-it-yourself test kit. We found one online for about $25. If you do have contamination, the cleanup can be expensive. Experts say decontamination jobs can cost up to $10,000.
Other helpful links from the Drug Enforcement Administration: