How Long Do Drugs Stay in Your System?

If left to its own devices, recreational drug use can spiral into addiction, destroying families, jobs and lives. It was reported that 7% of adults in the UK had taken a Class A substance. [1]

What starts as a brief high can deteriorate into a high tolerance, meaning more drugs are needed to achieve the same high. This can lead to overdoses, as your body cannot tolerate more substances.

The effects of drugs can last for a varying amount of time, depending on the substance. The same can be said for how long the drug stays in your system, even after the effect has worn off. Some drugs will remain in your system for days, weeks or even months.

Drug Tests

If you enter a rehabilitation facility, you may be asked to complete a drug test to truly understand what is in your or your loved ones‘ system. This is so they can take the necessary steps when starting your treatment.

There are four types of drug tests, each one with its own level of accuracy.

Urine test: The most commonly used drug test due to its high accuracy rate. It detects the metabolised substances in your urine.
Hair test: Drugs can be metabolised into your hair, meaning depending on how long your hair is, it is possible to detect what drugs were used over recent months. They can also test for several drugs at one time.
Blood test: While other forms of tests detect metabolised drugs, you can find compounds of the illicit substance with a blood test. However, it is only a short time that this is available.
Saliva test: Most substances cannot be traced in the saliva for very long. Therefore, it is only vaguely used. Nevertheless, saliva tests are an indicator of current drug use.

Below are different types of drugs, and how long they stay in your system and are present in the four types of drug tests:

1. Depressants

Depressants are substances that work by suppressing your central nervous system, slowing down the messages between the brain and the body, and leading to a reduction in arousal and stimulation. [2]

Marijuana (Cannabis)

Urine test: Up to 30 days

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood Test: 4 hours

Saliva: 72 hours

Cannabis tends to be smoked, with the effects typically taking only a few minutes. It could take up to 45 minutes if you have eaten.

Most reports state the feeling of being high only lasts around an hour, but traces of cannabis can be detected in the body for up to 90 days. [1]

Alcohol

Urine test: 12 to 24 hours

Hair test: 90 days

Blood test: 6 hours

Saliva: 12-24 hours

Alcohol is one of the most consumed depressants, depressing the central nervous system and giving the ‘drunk’ sensation.

In general, it takes around six hours for the effects of alcohol to wear off. However, this doesn’t include the hangover or detox period. If you have a severe alcohol dependency, it may take more alcohol to feel drunk, but last longer in your system.

2. Opioids

Opiates are a sub-category of drugs that work by attaching to the opioid receptors in the brain, muffling perceptions of pain and enhancing endorphin release. They are abused due to the euphoric feeling they produce. [3]

Morphine

Urine test: Up to 3 days

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 3 days

Saliva: Up to 3 days

Doctors initially prescribe morphine for chronic, severe pain. However, it comes with a high risk of addiction.

Users can quickly create a tolerance, with high doses often resulting in overdoses or even death. Long-acting morphine lasts from around 12 to 24 hours per dose.

Codeine

Urine test: Up to 3 days

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 24 hours

Saliva: Up to 4 days

Codeine is a prescription painkiller usually found in pill form or cough syrups, which produces similar effects to other opiates when abused.

The high formed from codeine last from around three to four hours. Codeine abuse can lead to abnormal breathing patterns, kidney failure and liver failure.

Fentanyl

Urine test: Up to 3 days

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 2 days

Saliva: N/A

Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate that poses a significant danger to society. Just a 2mg dose can be fatal, depending on the person’s size.

Reckoned to be around 100 times stronger than heroin, Fentanyl takes approximately 30 minutes to take effect, depending on how it is taken. It will begin to wear off within four to six hours.

Heroin

Urine test: Up to 3 days

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 6 hours

Saliva: Up to 1 hour

Heroin abuse remains one of the most dangerous addictions among heavy abusers, with the risk of addiction and overdose higher than many other substances.

Feelings of pleasure from heroin can peak in only a few minutes, with the high only being a few hours long. Many heroin is cut with other substances to make it more potent, adding to its toxicity. [1]

Oxycodone

Urine test: Up to 4 days

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 24 hours

Saliva: Up to 4 days

Oxycodone is a potent opioid painkiller used for severe pain, usually cancer. When swallowed, the effect can begin within two to four hours, with the peak effect taking around 15 hours.

Oxycodone is one of the most addictive painkillers and has led to many people becoming dependent and seeking help.

Methadone

Urine test: Up to 7 days

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 5 days

Saliva: Up to 40 hours

Methadone is a fast-acting drug, getting into your bloodstream around 30 minutes after ingesting. For most people, methadone relief lasts around four to eight hours.

Methadone is a synthetic opioid that helps those detox from harsher opioids like heroin. It doesn’t pose the same threats to the body as other opioids, but it is effective during a medically assisted detox.

Tramadol

Urine test: Up to 72 hours

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 48 hours

Saliva: Up to 48 hours

Tramadol can be an effective and safe painkiller for those suffering from chronic pain. Tramadol is an opioid. However, it has antidepressant qualities, which make it effective as a painkiller.

It usually takes effect within 30 minutes to an hour; however, it can be traced in your system for months after ingestion.

3. Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are sedative medications often used to treat symptoms of anxiety. Benzodiazepines increase the natural chemical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which controls aspects like reasoning, memory, breathing, and emotions.

This causes your body to reduce anxiety, relax muscles and make you feel sleepy. [4]

Ativan (Lorazepam)

Urine test: Up to 6 days

Hair test: Up to 30 days

Blood test: Up to 3 days

Saliva: Up to 8 hours

Ativan is mainly prescribed to patients to treat severe anxiety and seizures. Ativan abuse can create feelings of cognitive impairment, memory loss and depression.

Ativan can take just 20 minutes to take effect. However, abusers regularly take more than the recommended dose, leading to respiratory failure and potential death.

Librium

Urine test: Up to six weeks

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 48 hours

Saliva: Up to 10 days

Librium is often used during a medically assisted detox from alcohol. Librium is the brand name for chlordiazepoxide and is usually only used for a short period.

Librium addiction can cause the afflicted to feel drowsy and impact cognitive function and memory.

Valium (Diazepam)

Urine test: Up to six weeks

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 48 hours

Saliva: Up to 10 days

This benzodiazepine can have profound effects on your body if misused. Valium can take effect in just 10 minutes when ingested, but the full results can be felt after a week of taking the drug.

Valium abuse can be hazardous, especially when mixed with other depressants that can cause hallucinations, respiratory issues and potential heart attacks. [1]

Restoril (Temazepam)

Urine test: Up to six weeks

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 24 hours

Saliva: Up to 24 hours

Restoril can take one to two hours to take effect but can stay in your system for months after ingestion.

The danger of Restoril and other benzodiazepines comes from when it is abused and mixed with the likes of opiates. Restoril abuse can slow breathing and lead to overdose and death.

Xanax (Alprazolam)

Urine test: Up to four days

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 24 hours

Saliva: Up to two days

Despite how easily Xanax is prescribed for psychiatric care, Xanax or Alprazolam is a highly potent and addictive substance. Xanax can induce feelings of tranquillity and calmness when used correctly; however, when abused can cause slurred speech, seizures and delirium.

4. Hallucinogens

Hallucinogen substances are unique because they alter your awareness of your surroundings, thoughts, and feelings. They can be divided into two groups; classic hallucinogens and dissociative hallucinogens.

Both cause hallucinations; however, the latter can cause you to feel disconnected from your own body or surroundings. [5]

Ketamine

Urine test: Up to 11 days

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to four days

Saliva: N/A

Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic often used within the medical field to reduce pain and act as an inhibitor of opioid tolerance.

Ketamine can be injected and snorted and produce a fleeting high, meaning patience can build up quickly, leading to a risk of overdose and even death.

LSD (Acid)

Urine test: Up to four days

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 12 hours

Saliva: N/A

LSD can produce long, intense high periods, especially when abused. Consistent LSD abuse can severely affect your brain and lead to ongoing psychosis long after the drug has stopped taking effect.

Others can feel like life is ‘boring’ after the medication and continue taking LSD to supplement their everyday lives. [2]

Phencyclidine (PCP)

Urine test: Up to 4 weeks

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 24 hours

Saliva: Up to 10 days

PCP abuse severely impacts your memory, consciousness and learning ability. It even has a significant effect on your emotions.

Long-term use can inflict damage on your major organs and induce feelings of anxiety, delusions and paranoia. The drug’s effect can cause you to continue hallucinating and be in psychosis after the effects have worn off.

Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms)

Urine test: Up to 24 hours

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 24 hours

Saliva: N/A

Magic mushrooms have the reputation they aren’t dangerous as they are naturally grown; however, many reports that Psilocybin can cause severe psychological distress or a ‘bad trip’.

It is debated whether psilocybin is addictive; however, many believe continued use can cause a psychological dependency.

5. Stimulants

Stimulants work by speeding up the messages between the brain and the body, leading to the user feeling more alert, awake and energetic.

This can cause a false sense of confidence that can lead to the person acting aggressively or irrationally. [6]

Ecstasy

Urine test: Up to 4 days

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 48 hours

Saliva: Up to 48 hours

When illicit ecstasy is bought on the streets, it is usually laced with other potent substances like methamphetamine, ketamine or cocaine to increase its strength. This, however, makes it incredibly dangerous as users are entirely unaware of what they are taking.

Ecstasy, or MDMA, can take minutes to work but can be incredibly dangerous to your physical and mental health.

Cocaine

Urine test: Up to 3 days

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 24 hours

Saliva: Up to 48 hours

Cocaine is a devastatingly addictive substance that can have users genuinely underestimate how much they have taken, meaning the chance of overdose is high.

Street dealers tend to mix the substance with more potent drugs to increase its strength, increasing how dangerous it can be for unsuspecting buyers. Cocaine users risk heart attacks, strokes and seizures every time they use it.

Methamphetamine

Urine test: Up to one week

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 3 days

Saliva: Up to 4 days

Methamphetamine, or meth for short, changes how your brain and body interact, leading to changes in blood pressure and respiratory issues that can be lethal. Crystal meth can be snorted, smoked and injected, making the substance react quicker and more substantial.

Long-term crystal meth use can lead to hallucinations, severe dental problems and problems with your liver, kidneys and heart.

Adderall

Urine test: Up to 72 hours

Hair test: Up to 90 days

Blood test: Up to 46 hours

Saliva: Up to 50 hours

Adderall was created to treat patients with ADHD. However, the potent stimulant has become popular for those who don’t have the condition.

If you don’t have ADHD, you will experience a quick stimulant high, with side effects including blurred vision, seizures, aggressive behaviour and high blood pressure. Adderall is addictive and can quickly lead to people turning to other stimulants after gaining tolerance.