Meth Forum Brings Landlords and Tenants Together in Mt. Iron
On April 14th, the Coalition and regional service providers presented a forum entitled “Methamphetamines: The Cost to the Housing Community” in northeastern Minnesota.
A great panel of experts including representatives of property management, public housing, former users, law enforcement, and the county, discussed how cooking and/or using meth leads to housing instability.
The Drug Enforcement Agency reports that 50% of meth labs seized in Minnesota had children living in them at the time.
Clues that suggest that your tenant may be involved with meth include:
- denied access to landlords, neighbors, and other visitors
- large purchases and payments made in cash
- covered or blacked-out windows
- excessive night traffic
- apartment smells like chemicals
- there are things in the trash like packaging from over-the-counter ephedrine or pseudoephedrine cold pills; empty containers of antifreeze, ether, starting fluids, drain cleaner, paint thinner, or acetone; compressed gas cylinders or camps stove fuel containers; kitchen glassware with hoses or duct tape; coolers, thermos bottles, or other cold storage containers; or dust masks, rubber gloves, funnels, hosing and clamps.
The forum was attended by approximately 120 people. Find more meth lab information and tips for landlords from the MN Department of Health at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/meth/index.html.
