How Long Do Drugs Stay in Your System?

by Admin on Wednesday February 15, 2017

If you intend to apply for work, maintain a job, or compete in organized sports and have engaged in drug use, the question " How long do drugs stay in your system?, " can take on critical importance.

Drug testing is becoming an increasingly standard part of modern life. Many companies include drug testing as part of their hiring practices, and a growing number now require their employees to undergo mandatory random drug testing at any time. Some high schools, colleges, and certain sports leagues have also initiated drug testing of athletes that compete in certain sports.

How Long Do Drugs Stay in Your System?

The length of time that drugs can be detected in your system is based on their half-life, or the amount of time it takes your liver and kidneys to filter half of the drug from your system. A drug is considered to be out of your system once it has gone through five half-lives, and the amount of drugs is down to 3% or less.

On average, drug use can be detected in urine for 2 to 4 days. If every asked, "How Long Do Drugs Stay in Your System?, or want to know how long specific drug classes can be detected in your urine, you can find average drug metabolism times below. These times are only a general guideline, as there are many variables that can affect the length of time that drugs can be detected in your system.

Amphetamines – up to 2 days
Barbiturates – from 2 days to 3 weeks
Benzodiazepines – 3 days to 4-6 weeks or longer
Cocaine – up to 4 days
Codeine – 2 days
Alcohol – 2 to 12 hours
Heroin – 2 days
Marijuana – 2 to 7 days for a single use; up to 2 months for chronic use
MDMA – up to 14 days
Opiates – 2 days
PCP – 8-14 days, or 1 month for chronic use

What Factors Can Contribute to this?

While there are general guidelines for drug metabolism, the amount of time it takes for your body to eliminate a drug varies from person to person, based on certain factors. These factors include

Age
General health
Gender
Physical activity level
Hydration level
Co-current drug use
Body mass
Genetics
Diet

Do Drug Tests Work?

Drug testscan screen for certain classes of drugs, as well as for specific individual drugs. Athletic organizations test for performance-enhancing drugs, such as steroids, amphetamines, and certain opioids. If the testing entity is interested in the use of street drugs, they can choose five-panel urine drug tests that can detect marijuana (THC), cocaine, PCP, opiates, and amphetamines.

If prescription drugs are a concern, nine- or ten-panel drug tests can be administered. These drug tests can additionally detect the presence of particular prescription drugs including benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and oxycodone.

Other options are available, such as an expanded opiate panel that detects specific opiates. These tests are often used in therapeutic medication settings to determine compliance with a prescribed drug treatment plan.

What Methods are Used for Drug Testing?

There are several different drug testing methods that can be used to detect drugs in your system. Drugs can be detected in the hair, urine, blood, saliva, and breath.

Hair tests – Considered the most accurate drug testing method, they can detect most drug or alcohol use for 90 days; LSD for 3 days.
Blood tests – Length of time that drugs can be detected can be affected by several factors. Generally, 12 hours for alcohol, opium, and heroin; 24 hours for cocaine; 2 days for marijuana, and 1-3 days for meth.
Urine tests – Most commonly used drug testing methods. Generally about the same length of time detected by blood tests for each substance.

Of course, the only way to guarantee that drugs won't be detected in your system is to avoid using them in the first place. Drug abuse is a serious problem and a widespread epidemic which will either lead you or your loved one down a road of destruction, pain, and in more serious cases, imminent death.

Does the question, "How Long Do Drugs Stay in Your System?" Pertain to Me?

Have you ever asked yourself, "How Long Do Drugs Stay in Your System?" If the answer is "yes," then you may indeed have an addiction to something than can potentially ruin all of the things that you've worked so hard for. Whether it being your job where they perform random drug testing, or if you're a member of a sports league that initiates drug testing for athletes, you don't want everything to be destroyed by drug abuse and addiction.

If you are tired of the hassles and complications that come with drug use and are ready to try for something better, it may be time to consider entering Alcohol Treatment Centers Dayton.

Even if you or your loved one have been unsuccessful at quitting drugs and/or alcohol in the past, medical detox can ease your withdrawal symptoms and increase your chances for a successful recovery.

Call Alcohol Treatment Centers Dayton at (937) 528 – 2809 now for more information of rehab facilities.

Sources:

https://www.drugs.com/article/drug-testing.html

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2010/0301/p635.html#sec-4

http://www.attn.com/stories/5062/how-long-do-drugs-stay-in-your-system