Management of clandestine drug laboratories: Need for evidence-based environmental health policies

Al-Obaidi, TA; Fletcher, SM

Management of clandestine drug laboratories: Need for evidence-based environmental health policies

Al-Obaidi, TA Fletcher, SM

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 2014, 19 (1), pp. 1 - 11
Issue Date:: 2014-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Al-Obaidi, TA	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Fletcher, SM	en_US
dc.date.available	2013-08-10	en_US
dc.date.issued	2014-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 2014, 19 (1), pp. 1 - 11	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1342-078X	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/26850
dc.description.abstract	Clandestine drug laboratories (CDLs) have been emerging and increasing as a public health problem in Australia, with methamphetamine being the dominant illegally manufactured drug. However, management and remediation of contaminated properties are still limited in terms of regulation and direction, especially in relation to public and environmental health practice. Therefore, this review provides an update on the hazards and health effects associated with CDLs, with a specific look at the management of these labs from an Australian perspective. Particularly, the paper attempts to describe the policy landscape for management of CDLs, and identifies current gaps and how further research may be utilised to advance understanding and management of CDLs and inform public health policies. The paper highlights a significant lack of evidence-based policies and guidelines to guide regulatory authority including environmental health officers in Australia. Only recently, the national Clandestine Drug Laboratory Guidelines were developed to assist relevant authority and specialists manage and carry out investigations and remediation of contaminated sites. However, only three states have developed state-based guidelines, some of which are inadequate to meet environmental health requirements. The review recommends well-needed inter-sectoral collaborations and further research to provide an evidence base for the development of robust policies and standard operating procedures for safe and effective environmental health management and remediation of CDLs. © 2013 The Japanese Society for Hygiene.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/s12199-013-0360-8	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Toxicology	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Street Drugs	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Hazardous Substances	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Environmental Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Public Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Health Policy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Laboratories	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Illicit Drugs	en_US
dc.title	Management of clandestine drug laboratories: Need for evidence-based environmental health policies	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	1	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	19	en_US
utslib.for	111799 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified	en_US
utslib.for	111705 Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety	en_US
utslib.for	05 Environmental Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	06 Biological Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	1	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	19	en_US

Abstract:

Clandestine drug laboratories (CDLs) have been emerging and increasing as a public health problem in Australia, with methamphetamine being the dominant illegally manufactured drug. However, management and remediation of contaminated properties are still limited in terms of regulation and direction, especially in relation to public and environmental health practice. Therefore, this review provides an update on the hazards and health effects associated with CDLs, with a specific look at the management of these labs from an Australian perspective. Particularly, the paper attempts to describe the policy landscape for management of CDLs, and identifies current gaps and how further research may be utilised to advance understanding and management of CDLs and inform public health policies. The paper highlights a significant lack of evidence-based policies and guidelines to guide regulatory authority including environmental health officers in Australia. Only recently, the national Clandestine Drug Laboratory Guidelines were developed to assist relevant authority and specialists manage and carry out investigations and remediation of contaminated sites. However, only three states have developed state-based guidelines, some of which are inadequate to meet environmental health requirements. The review recommends well-needed inter-sectoral collaborations and further research to provide an evidence base for the development of robust policies and standard operating procedures for safe and effective environmental health management and remediation of CDLs. © 2013 The Japanese Society for Hygiene.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/26850