According to an ABC investigation, experts and Integrity Sampling, Australia is in the grip of the drug ice, with labs starting up in homes, industrial complexes, shipping containers, trucks and even car boots every year.
The ABC investigation and report found that in 2014, police raided close to 750 meth labs across Australia and the figure is expected to rise this year. The increase is largely due to the potential profits from the illegal activity.
As well as the obvious health and safety impacts, the production of ice is also an environmental issue. For every kilogram of ice manufactured, 10 kilograms of toxic waste is produced and much of this waste is being dumped in national parks, bushland, the sides of roads and waterways.
Integrity Sampling has also noticed a significant difference in the workplace, in regards to ice use. Recent drug testing by Integrity Sampling has shown that ice, speed and other methamphetamines are responsible for the most positive drug tests (see We’re positive – ICE and methamphetamines a major concern).
