How Long Do Drugs Stay in Your System?

Each drug takes a unique amount of time to be metabolized and leave the system, with the detection time in urine ranging between 1 and 7 depending on a host of factors.

In this article, Avenues Recovery takes a look at how long drugs stay in your system, zooming in on factors affecting drug detection times, the different ways drugs can be detected, and how long common drugs can be found in various parts of the body. 

What Affects How Long Drugs Stay In Your System?

Many factors can affect how long it takes for drugs to leave your system, including the type and dose of the drug, how it was taken, and the individual’s genetics and lifestyle. 

We will explain these factors in detail below:

• The type of drug: Some drugs are metabolized more quickly than others. For example, alcohol is metabolized relatively quickly, while cocaine is metabolized more slowly.
• The individual's metabolism: Some people metabolize drugs more quickly than others. This is due to several factors, including genetics, diet, and exercise. For example, people with a higher body fat percentage may retain drugs in their system longer than people with a lower body fat percentage.
• The amount of drug taken: The larger the drug dose, the longer it will take to clear from the body. Additionally, people who use drugs regularly may develop a tolerance to the drug, which can also affect how long it stays in their system.
• The route of administration: Drugs that are injected or smoked are absorbed into the bloodstream more quickly than drugs that are taken orally. This means that they will also clear from the body more quickly.

What Is Drug Half-Life?

The half-life of a drug is the time it takes for the amount of drug in the body to decrease by half. This is a measure of how quickly the body metabolizes and eliminates the drug.

Drugs with a longer half-life - such as cocaine and heroin - take more time to be eliminated from the body, and thus, their effects can last longer. This means they may remain detectable in drug tests for a more extended period.

Drugs with a shorter half-life - such as alcohol and marijuana - are eliminated from the body more rapidly. This means that their effects wear off relatively quickly as well. They are generally detectable for a shorter duration in drug tests.

The half-life of a drug can be used to predict how long the effects of a drug will last.

What Does a Drug Screen Detect?

A drug screen checks for the presence of specific drugs and their byproducts in your system.

A person will be tested for drugs when entering detox as part of the intake process to assess their substance use history. It may also be used throughout their detox process to check their progress.

There are various ways of testing how long a drug stays in the body, each with its relative advantages and disadvantages in detecting different drug half-lives:

• Urine Drug Tests: Drugs with longer half-lives are generally detectable for a longer time in urine, while drugs with shorter half-lives may be detectable for a shorter period.
• Blood Drug Tests: Blood tests are more likely to detect drugs with shorter half-lives because they provide a real-time snapshot of drug presence. Drugs with longer half-lives may still be detectable but for a shorter time compared to urine or hair tests.
• Hair Drug Tests: Hair tests can detect drugs with longer half-lives because they capture a historical record of drug use over a more extended period, often up to 90 days.
• Saliva Drug Tests: Saliva tests are generally better at detecting recent drug use, so drugs with shorter half-lives are more likely to be detected. They may not be as effective for drugs with very long half-lives.

The choice of testing method depends on various factors, including the specific drugs being tested for. Below, we will outline the drug detection times for each of these tests.

How Long Do Drugs Stay in Urine?

Drugs can be detected in urine for periods ranging from a few days up to a few weeks, depending on the substance. It usually takes two hours before a substance can be detected in the urine. 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA explains that “Urine testing is the best developed and most commonly used monitoring technique in substance abuse treatment programs.” According to a recent study on advanced detection methods, techniques like UHPLC-HRMS and GC-MS are highly effective in detecting both classic drugs and new psychoactive substances in urine samples.

The main advantage of this form of testing is how far back a urine drug test can go. Urine testing is recognized as being more effective than blood testing since blood has a shorter detection period than urine, and urine testing also detects a wide range of drugs.

Some disadvantages of urine testing are: 

• Urine testing isn’t as quick and affordable for service providers to carry out, compared to saliva testing. 
• Urine testing requires privacy precautions, so it may not be suitable for all settings (such as testing people on the street). 
• Urine drug test detection times are generally shorter for some drugs compared to hair. It may not detect very recent use, especially for drugs with a short half-life.

Urine Drug Test Detection Times Chart

Below is a chart that explains how long a urine drug test can detect different drugs:

How Long Can Drugs Be Detected in My Blood?

Drugs can be detected in the blood from a few hours up to a few days after use, depending on the drug taken. This short detection window makes blood testing less suitable than urine testing for detecting past drug use.

Other disadvantages of blood tests are that they are invasive, uncomfortable, and expensive compared to other methods. They also require a trained medical professional to obtain the sample and perform laboratory testing. For people who inject drugs or those with poor vein access, drawing blood may be difficult. 

However, blood tests produce highly accurate results and are difficult to tamper with. They are also useful for detecting recent drug use.

Blood Drug Test Chart

The chart below describes how long drugs can be detected in your blood:

How Long Do Drugs Stay in Saliva?

Drugs can typically be detected in saliva for 1 to 3 days after use, depending on the specific drug.

The advantage of saliva tests is that they are non-invasive and easy to collect. Unlike a urinalysis, saliva testing requires no privacy precautions, and they are often used for roadside drug testing due to their non-invasive nature. They are also able to detect recent drug use. 

However, relative to urine or hair follicle tests, saliva tests have a shorter detection window, so they are less effective for detecting past drug use.

Saliva Drug Test Detection Time Table

The table below displays how long drugs stay in saliva:

How Long Do Drugs Stay in Your Hair?

Hair testing can typically detect drugs up to 90 days after use, and thus, is often used to obtain a historical record of substance use. Compared to other testing methods like blood or urine, it’s astonishing how far back a hair follicle test can detect drugs. 

Hair testing is often used in situations where a historical record of drug use is important, such as pre-employment screening or legal proceedings. Another advantage of hair testing is its non-invasive nature.

The main disadvantage of hair testing is its inability to detect very recent drug use -  it can take several days or weeks for drugs to become detectable. It also may not be able to detect infrequent or one-time use. In addition, it is more effective on some types of hair than others.

Hair Follicle Drug Test Detection Chart

The chart below shows how far back a hair follicle test detects drugs:

Detection Times for Common Drugs

Passing a Drug Test

The most reliable way to pass a drug test is to abstain from using drugs for a sufficient period before the test. How long it takes for drugs to leave your system can vary, as discussed earlier. Understanding the type of test (urine, blood, saliva, or hair) you will undergo, and its sensitivity, can help you prepare properly. 

Aside from the many detox kits available, several natural measures can be taken to help speed up the biological detoxification process. These include:

• Staying Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water can help dilute the concentration of drugs in your system, which may help you pass a urine test. However, excessive water consumption can raise suspicions, and some tests include measures to detect dilution.
• Ensuring Proper Nutrition: A well-balanced diet can also support your body's natural detoxification process. 
• Regular Physical Activity: Consistent exercise and healthy sweating can help your body metabolize and eliminate the drugs quicker.

It's important to note that there is no foolproof method to pass a drug test if you have recently used drugs, as the accuracy and reliability of drug tests have improved. In addition, cheating on a drug test (such as using synthetic urine on a urine test) can have legal consequences, and many tests include measures to detect tampering.

Detoxing From Drugs

Before a person deals with the psychological effects of their addiction, they must first undergo drug or alcohol detox to rid themselves of the substance. If an addict tries to undergo detox alone or at the wrong pace, they may find themselves grappling with difficult withdrawal symptoms - which may cause them to relapse. That is why guided detox in the setting of a reputable rehabilitation center such as Avenues Recovery is so important. 

Next Steps: Keeping Drugs Out of Your System for Good

At Avenues Recovery, we will work with you to create an individualized detox treatment plan specially designed for you and your needs. Our staff are experts in the field of addiction and have helped thousands of people detox safely and turn their lives around. 

No one is beyond hope or healing. We offer the highest quality care and support, combined with evidence-based therapies to give you the best chance of recovery. Contact Avenues Recovery today to begin your journey to a life free from addiction!