With one of meths ingredients being hydros ammonia (spelled correctly?) a powerful fertilizer that permeates the soil and stays for a long time…it is no suprise that it would permeate simple gypsum walls and porous wood. In Missouri if you buy a home that does not disclose imperfections, hidden damages, or dangers…you can sue every entity involved with the sale and win. (unless you buy “AS IS”) Renters have a more difficult legal road.

Each week I meet with a group of pre-teens and teenagers who have been exposed to second-hand methamphetamine. Symptons include increased wakefulness, increased physical activity and decreased appetite. Eventually it will (and does!) develop into dependence and addiction psychosis, including paranoia, hallucinations, mood distrubances and repetitive motor activity.

Not something a responsible parent exposes his children to!

Commenters’ #10 and #11 have it right; as with home repair issues this is something sellers have an obligation to disclose. I would also recommend a thorough home inspection and acquire a police report on the house.

Alas, in life, there are no guarantees, but the inspection and the police report go a long way towards minimizing your risk.

Are these Ex-Meth cookers selling their homes or are these buyers getting abandoned homes at rock bottom prices from the courthouse steps? If it’s the former, then sure, it should have been disclosed. If the latter, the new owner needs to buck up and use some of the money they saved from the purchase to clean their home if the “hazards” are enough to warrant the cleaning.

I read somewhere that the amount of residue that can get your house condemned equates to a sugar packet spread over 23 football fields. If that’s all it takes to condemn a house, it must be some pretty bad stuff. I hope the terrorists don’t figure that out. /sarcasm.

As a Child Protective Services worker in Texas we were trained about the hazard of meth labs and the danger of just touching furniture, walls, doors, anything inside the home. The residue can absorb though the skin on your hand, ingested if you put your exposed hand to your mouth or inhaled. Unfortunately, Mr. Hannegan believes he is smarter than those who have studied and work with meth and it’s residue. Just observe a child who is exposed to this crap and you won’t doubt it’s toxicity. Home sellers and landlords who do not have the residence cleaned of the residue and allow unsuspecting people to move into these home should face criminal charges. These people aren’t dumb, they are greedy! Just like the financial institutions that have us in the economic mess, greed.

Absolutely they should tell you. Forget the residue though. I would be more wary of former “buyers” coming by looking for product. They may not be aware that property has changed hands. Some of those people could become violent if you don’t have their stuff.

This is yet another distraction story “CREATED” by the Post-Disgrace to instill FEAR in the masses that there is a crisis of former Meth Houses on the market. When in fact it’s probably something on the order of .0000001% of homes were ever involved in meth manufacturing.

BWAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Be very afraid!

It might be in your best interest to check with local law enforcement to find out if there have been any problems with the real estate that you are looking to purchase. I think it is sometimes wise to take responsibility for checking into things for yourself. Talk to the neighbors also. If you have all the facts, you should be the one to make an educated decision of weather you want to buy the property or not. Stop depending on the government to take care of everything for you. Look out for yourself.

I would also inquire as to whether the home was used by factions of Radical Islam or other terrorist cells. Radical Islam often leaves behind a residue of terrorism that can not be easily removed from the premises and requires specialists from the DHS to exorcise from the premises.

Kurt:

That last comment, written above the name “Ryan On the Euphonium” did not come from my computer. The Euphonium creates beatiful music–and does not reflect the message of that post!

Signed: The “original” Ryan On The Euphonium (in the brass section, below the Trombones, next to the Tubas–stage right of the conductor!).