A public housing tenant in Wodonga says he’s become unwell because he is living in a home contaminated with methamphetamine from previous tenants. It was declared safe by the department of housing when he moved in, but his own testing since has detected traced of the drug at the property. New research shows methamphetamine can linger in homes and cars long after it has been consumed, cooked or transported.
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00:00Wodonga resident Craig Lechel thought he'd struck gold when he was offered a flat through
00:09public housing in 2022, but his health deteriorated after moving in.
00:16I'd get up to go to the toilet and it felt like there was sand in my eyes.
00:20And since then my health has deteriorated and I've been in a lot of pain.
00:26The housing department has confirmed the home was exposed to methamphetamine by previous
00:31tenants.
00:32It was decontaminated by the department just before Mr Lechel moved in, but he says self-testing
00:39kits are still showing positive results for the drug.
00:43It's quite actually overwhelming to have that confirmation that you know something's wrong,
00:48you know something's making you sick, you just don't know what it is.
00:51These test results have been backed up by new research warning of the danger of third
00:56hand exposure to methamphetamine, which can linger long after the drug's been cooked or
01:02consumed there.
01:03You don't have to touch the surfaces to get exposed to the methamphetamine, but just breathing
01:07inside the house means you're being exposed.
01:10And that chronic exposure is being linked to concerning health problems.
01:15We're seeing things like cognitive problems and behavioural problems in children, sleep
01:19issues, respiratory problems, skin issues and also headaches.
01:24Victoria's Department of Housing says it follows national guidelines to ensure tenant safety
01:30and has offered more testing on the Wodonga property.
01:34But Dr Wright says anyone with concerns should do a home test like Mr Lechel did.
01:39If it does come up and it's positive, then you do need to engage someone.
01:44Mr Lechel has called in independent testers to confirm his results.
01:49I've moved into a place that's slowly just eating me up.
01:53Hoping to breathe easier.