The exact amount of time a drug stays in the body will vary according to factors like the dose, the persons age, weight, and sex, and their physical health.
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A common question among people who use drugswhether illicitly or by prescriptionis, How long will this drug stay in my body? This question may be asked by those looking to understand how long the drugs effects will last, when to expect the beginning of withdrawal, or whether they can pass a drug test, but the fact is that this answer is rarely clear and can be highly variable among individuals.
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Drugs are a general term used to describe a variety of foreign substances that may be taken to induce some kind of effect. Drugs may be illegal/illicit or prescription. Even everyday household products like cleaning supplies and gasoline may be considered drugs when abused for psychoactive effects.[2]
As large as the variety of drugs, so is the variation in the duration of actions of these drugs in the body. Each drug will last in the body for a different amount of time after it is consumed.[3]
The variation does not end there, though. The time it takes for the body to eliminate a drug from the system depends on many factors beyond just the specific drug type, including:[4]
Because of these factors, two people using the same substance could have a very different experience. A drug like Xanax, for example, is influenced by the age, health, and ethnicity of the person, with the drug lasting longer in people who are obese, older than 64, have liver problems, or are Asian or white.[5]
The above individual differences can influence the way the body metabolizes and eliminates the drug, so people of similar weight, sex, and ethnicity are more likely to metabolize drugs similarly. In general, once a drug is consumed, the body begins to metabolize it by breaking apart the molecule or otherwise chemically changing the ingested substance to facilitate the process of ultimately clearing it from the body.[6]
Some substances, like alcohol, require multiple steps from several enzymes to be completely metabolized. Alcohol is broken down into acetaldehyde, a toxic, cancer-causing substance, then acetate, and finally separated into water and carbon dioxide for easy removal from the body.[7]
Regarding our ability to metabolize and clear substances from the body, variations amongst individuals are difficult to isolate and adjust for. It is therefore difficult to precisely determine how long a drug will stay in the body or how long a drug will available for detection in a test, although there are some general guidelines.
For those worried and concerned about a drug being detectable in their body, its essential to understand that the only way to ensure a negative test is not to use drugs.
When learning about drugs of abuse and their duration of action, one term is frequently encountered: half-life. A drugs half-lifesometimes called elimination half-liferepresents how long it takes for a drugs concentration in the body to drop by 50%.[10]
Each substance has a unique half-life determined by the balance of metabolism and excretion rates.[11] Again, these half-lives are average durations that can be greatly impacted by a number of individual factors.
In terms of substance abuse, the drugs half-life helps to determine how long the effects will last in the body but has little to do with the speed of onset (when the effects will be felt).
Benzodiazepines are a good example of the distinctions between speed of onset and half-life, since they are a large group of chemically-similar drugs often sub-classified by their widely variable onsets of effects and durations of action. With these drugs, long-acting variations with long half-lives can have a rapid or intermediate onset of action and short-acting versions can also have rapid or intermediate onset of action.[12] Changing the route of administrationinjecting rather than swallowing a version with an intermediate onset of actionmay speed up onset, but it will not change the half-life.[13]
Since drugs with long half-lives stay in the body longer, they will be detectable for a longer period with a drug screen.[14] This means a benzodiazepine with a long-half-life like Valium may, on average, be detectable longer than a drug with short half-life like Xanax.[15]
A drugs half-life may also be used to roughly predict the timeline for the emergence of withdrawal symptoms when use ends. Withdrawals represent a number of unwanted and uncomfortable symptoms triggered by the drug leaving the body.[16] Drugs with short half-lives like heroin will trigger withdrawal symptoms sooner than drugs with long half-lives with methadone.[17]
The half-lives of some of the most widely used illicit drugs are:
Half-lives of some of those most widely used (and abused) prescription drugs are:[23]
When people wonder about drug half-lives, they are often concerned with how long a drug is measurable in the system because they are facing a drug test. A drug test is a tool that looks for the presence of specific substances (both legal and illicit) in the body.[25]
Drug tests commonly look for:[26]
Different situations require the use of drug tests. Drug tests are used for:[27]
Most drugs of abuse stay in the body for at least a few days after the last use and are traceable with urine tests.[28]
Disclaimer: Drug half-lives offer some good information about how long a drug stays in the body, but they arent perfect indicators of how long a drug can be detected in a test. You should not use these averages to try and trick a test. Also, drugs can be detected in blood and hair for longer than urine.
Our medical director, Dr. Calarco gives insight into whether every drug in your system shows up on a drug test in the video below.
The only way to reliably pass a drug test is to abstain from drugs.
As long as there have been drug tests, there have been people trying to cheat the tests. They may go to great lengths to fool the tests or the person administering the test.
The methods used vary by the type of test being administered. For urine tests, people will try to:[29]
The options for trying to cheat drug tests are not limited to urine tests. For tests that sample saliva, there are a variety of gums, capsules, and mouthwashes that promise to yield clean tests.[30] For tests that examine hairs, shampoos, conditioners, cleansing mud, and complete purification systems claim to result in a successful outcome.[31]
People attempting to outsmart drug tests are often disappointed in the end, though. Home and online remedies show little chance of success, and trying to dilute or manipulate the sample may be obvious to the tester or the specific test.[32]
Looking to the internet can be an expensive exercise in futility because most of these products do not live up to their claims of cleansing, detoxing, or fooling drug tests. Many of these products simply do not work at all.[33] Not only do they not work, but they can be very costly.
Even in the rare case that such a product leads to a negative drug test, the product itself will likely be traceable in the urine sample.[34] This finding would raise a red flag and lead to additional drug testing and attention in the coming days and weeks.
People have long tried to beat drug tests, but again, its impossible to know just when the drug will be out of the system because its so unpredictable. Though falsified test results may help you avoid immediate repercussions, you may be only be prolonging an underlying bad situation or delaying much-needed help should a substance use disorder or addiction be a factor. If youre abusing drugs and you cant stop, professional treatment is the best way forward.
Stopping drug use is always the right choice, but how you quit could carry some risks. In some cases, sudden or cold turkey abstinence is not advisable. To be safe, meet with a doctor or addiction treatment professional so that you understand the potential risks of quitting certain substances, including alcohol.
People who decide to end their drug use may experience withdrawal symptoms if their bodies have adapted to the drugs presence (known as dependence).[35] Many drugs are associated with distinct withdrawal syndromessome may be managed with emotional support but others could require emergency medical intervention depending on symptom severity; just how severe withdrawal will be will be dependent on many factors including the drug type and the individuals health.[36]
The term detox is often used casually to refer to clean eating, drinking water, fasting, and generally flushing toxins out of the system. For a very casual substance user who wants to feel healthy, a period of drinking a lot of water, eating well, and not using drugs may be enough for them to feel like theyve detoxed their bodies. However, in the case of physical dependence on a substance, detox refers to the set of interventions used to manage the bodys readjustment to not having the drug; this readjustment is knowns as withdrawal, and it can be an extremely dangerous time, depending on the drug on which the person is dependent.
Dependence may develop quickly, depending on the patterns of use and the drug. Some people whove been using only for a matter of weeks may experience withdrawal upon quitting.[37] Certain prescription drugs may also lead to significant dependence, and individuals abusing prescription drugs may be just as at-risk of withdrawal complications as a person using illicit substances.[38]
If youve been using one or more drugs consistently and want to quit, its a good idea to meet with a medical professional to gauge your risk of withdrawal and best determine the appropriate method for you to end your substance use. You may be advised to undergo medical detox if you are at risk of severe withdrawal, for example if youre dependent on alcohol or benzodiazepines.[39]
People at highest risk of severe, dangerous withdrawal will be referred to inpatient medical detox; these programs provide 24-hour care from an experienced team of medical staff.Inpatient detox normally occurs in acute care hospitals or standalone detox centers to ensure effective treatment with staff who are able to respond quickly to complications or emergencies.
When appropriate, non-medical or socially managed detoxes are residential treatment options that provide supportive care and compassion from the staff to help people through withdrawal and encourage recovery.[44] Though helpful for many, these detoxes may not provide sufficient support for someone dependent on opioids, alcohol, or sedatives.
Some people with relatively few acute health risks may be able to detox on an outpatient basis. Outpatient detoxes may offer similar medications and treatment plans to manage withdrawal while permitting the individual to live at home.[45] For outpatient detox, the person will be required to keep regularly scheduled appointments with their doctors for evaluation and treatment.
Depending on the course of treatment, detox can take just a few days, several weeks or more. The decisions made during detox are aimed at making the withdrawal process as safe and comfortable as possible.[46]
Detoxification is a crucial step for anyone thinking about ending their substance use, but it is only one piece of the addiction treatment puzzle. In fact, since detoxification only targets the persons physical dependence on substances, additional treatment is needed to address the psychological addiction.[47]
If youre living with addiction, worrying about drug tests, half-lives, and expensive products to detoxify your body will only waste your time and money and keep you living in the spiral of this disease.
Addiction is marked by a compulsion to get and use drugs.[48] When addicted, drugs and alcohol push all important people and priorities to the background, which results in unwanted consequences like:[49]
Professional addiction treatment addresses all the factors that lead to and sustain addiction. With a combination of behavioral therapy and medication management, the person can begin to understand their addiction and triggers while beginning to restore their physical and mental health.[50]
Like detox, addiction treatment occurs in inpatient and outpatient settings. Inpatient/residential settings are good options for people who have severe addictions, limited supports at home, limited success with previous treatments while outpatient options are best for people with less intense addictions, more natural supports, and previous treatment success.[51]
Inpatient/residential treatments more closely resemble home-like settings than the hospital-like environment of medical detox. Outpatient treatments often occur in community health centers, doctors offices, or a dedicated rehab facility. Levels of outpatient treatment include:[52]
Your treatment team will guide you in the most helpful direction based on your needs. Getting help for addictions does not begin and end with professional treatment, though. A number of support group options are available to complement and extend the benefits that one can get from professionals.[53]
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Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are organized and led by other people with a history of addiction.[54] These groups create a sense of community and fellowship that aids the recovery process.
Addiction treatment can last for long periods of time, which may seem overwhelming, but since longer periods of treatment tend to result in longer periods of recovery, time in treatment is a worthwhile commitment.[55]
Remember, drugs stay in your system as long as you keep putting them there. Dont fret about another drug test ever again; with treatment and diligent aftercare efforts, you can remain drug-free, sober, healthy from here on out.
Health Street offers testing with urine and hair, plus additional tests for alcohol. Our clients include individuals and their families, courts and businesses, who use drug testing for applicants and employees.
In choosing the best drug testing services for your needs, there are several considerations, such as whether you wish to test for more recent use of drugs or over a longer period of time. For pre-employment drug screens, you will want to know if the applicant has a long-term substance abuse problem. After an accident, you will want to test right away for more recent use, to know if they were under the influence when the accident occurred. Therefore, it is important to know the detection window for various types of tests. For employee drug testing, it's also helpful to know how long drugs stay in a person's system, so that you can schedule random testing accordingly.
How far back does a drug test go? There are various factors that influence how long a certain drug can be detected in the system. These include the type of testing used, the drug and dosage, potency, person's tolerance and metabolism, and whether they have existing medical conditions.
The detection period for urine tests can be between several hours to two months, depending on the substance. For phenobarbital, it's just 6-48 hours. Urine tests can detect marijuana and THC for as long as two months, in the case of daily users.
The drug detection time in urine drug tests are rough estimates, since there are many factors that can make these detection windows longer or shorter.
With hair follicle tests, the drug can be detected for a greater length of time. For marijuana, heroin, fentanyl and other substances, it can be as much as 90 days.
timer 3-5 days
Adderalltimerup to 3 days
Amphetaminestimer1-3 days
Barbituratestimer2-4 days, up to 6 weeks (depends on many factors)
Benzodiazepinestimer4-6 days (Xanax, Ativan) to 6 weeks (Librium, Valium, Restoril)
Cocainetimer3-4 days
Codeinetimer1-3 days
Fentanyltimer1-3 days
Herointimer3-4 days
Hydrocodonetimerup to 4 days
Ketaminetimerup to 11 days
LSDtimerup to 4 days
Marijuanatimer7-30 or more days
MDMAtimer3-4 days
Mescalinetimerup to 3 days
Methamphetamine (crystal meth)timerup to a week
Methadonetimerup to 12 days
Morphinetimer2-3 days
Oxycodonetimerup to 4 days
PCP (angel dust)timerup to 4 weeks
Propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet)timerup to 10 days
Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms)timerup to 1 day
Synthetic Marijuana (K2, spice)timerup to 3 days
Tramadol (opiate analgesic)timerup to 3 days
The amount of time a drug stays in your system can vary by the type, how much is used, frequency of use, your hydration levels, amount of physical activity, body mass, metabolic rate, drug tolerance, weight, medical conditions, gender, and ethnicity.
Hair tests go back 90 days or more. Hair follicle testing doesn't test the hair follicles (roots), but rather the first 1.5 inches of growth. Since drugs are detectable in hair for a long time, testing hair determines prior use of drugs. Many substances can be detected in hair.
When asking "how long do drugs stay in your system," there's also the issue of alcohol use. Health Street offers various kinds of tests which can detect alcohol and its metabolites. We can check for current intoxication or if the consumption was at some time in the past. Since testing methods differ on how far they look back, the type you should order depends upon the circumstance and your requirements.
local_barDOT and Non-DOT Breath Tests Breathalyzers show how much alcohol a person has on their breath, so it's for current intoxication only. It's faster, more convenient and as accurate as a blood test. This method is required by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and is used by other employers and law enforcement.
local_barBasic Urine Test This test detects alcohol use within the past 12 hours. It does not necessarily check for current intoxication, but only if someone has had a drink in the recent past.
local_barEtG Urine Test The EtG test goes back further, up to 80 hours (three days). A urine test may be required by a court order for parents who have limited custody of their children (i.e., weekends), and are prohibited from consuming alcohol during this visit.
local_barPeth Test This test looks for biomarkers in the bloodstream, which it can detect for up to three weeks after consumption. Families, clinicians or courts may order these to check for binge drinking or chronic use.
local_barHair Testing Of all the tests, this one looks back the furthest up to 90 days or longer. Either head or body hair can be used. This one is often ordered by a court after a DUI charge or during a custody dispute, by doctors treating alcoholism and by families who may be worried about underage drinking.
For Individuals and Families You may be concerned that a family member is using drugs, or you may want to ensure that someone is staying drug-free. Our quick and easy drug tests can be ordered by individuals and their families, and there are convenient locations nationwide to choose from.
gavelCourt-Ordered We provide testing for drugs and alcohol as required by court order. This may be relating to a DUI/DWI, child custody case, probation or pre-trial. Legal agreements or court orders will often state the reporting requirements. We work extensively with drug testing that is required by court orders.
work_outlineIn the Workplace To ensure a drug-free workplace, many companies have instituted drug testing programs for their employees, as well as a pre-employment urine drug screening for initial testing. Health Street can help your business set up a regimen, and the software for our business clients makes it easy.
For a company-wide drug screening program, it can be difficult to coordinate tests for groups of employees. Our StaffGlass integrated recruitment and onboarding platform lets you order pre-employment and ongoing drug testing for your staff. It also includes remote ID verification, background checks, occupational health services and e-sign document management.
StaffGlass benefits include:
checkThe ability to order a wide variety of tests directly from the cloud-based platform.
checkCandidates or employees can select a convenient time and location.
checkMore than 14,000 nationwide clinics to choose from.
checkStatus notifications at every step.
checkTest results are securely delivered and displayed on the person's centralized record.
checkOnce an applicant is hired, their record becomes their employee record, so that further tests can be ordered throughout their employment and their results can be closely monitored.
checkPlatform is mobile-friendly and accessible anytime/anywhere.
checkAdvanced security and data management
Contact us if you have any questions about which drug tests are most appropriate for your situation. Whether you require a drug test for a family member, a court order or for a company program, we have a fast, accurate and effective solution.
For more accu screeninginformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.