How long do drugs stay in your body or drug's detection period
Here we offer to your attention approximate detection periods for each substance by test type. The ranges depend on amount and frequency of use, metabolic rate, body mass, age, overall health, and urine pH.
Approximate values for detection periods |
Substance |
Urine |
Hair |
Blood |
Alcohol |
3–5 days via ethyl gluconoride (EtG) metabolite or 6-24 hours via traditional method |
Up to 90 days |
12 hours |
Amphetamines (except meth) |
1 to 3 days |
up to 90 days |
12 hours |
Methamphetamine |
3 to 5 days |
up to 90 days |
1-3 days |
MDMA (Ecstasy) |
4 days |
up to 90 days |
25 hours |
Barbiturates (except phenobarbital) |
2 to 3 days |
up to 90 days |
1 to 2 days |
Phenobarbital |
2 to 3 weeks |
up to 90 days |
4 to 7 days |
Benzodiazepines |
Therapeutic use: 3 days. Chronic use (over one year): 4 to 6 weeks |
up to 90 days |
6 to 48 hours |
Cannabis |
- Single use: 1-6 days
- Weekly use: 3-9 days
- Daily use: 7-30 days
|
Up to 90 days |
2-3 days after infrequent use, up to 2 weeks after frequent use |
Cocaine |
2 to 4 days with exceptions for certain kidney disorders |
up to 90 days |
24 hours |
Codeine |
1 day |
up to 90 days |
12 hours |
Cotinine (a break-down product of nicotine) |
2 to 4 days |
up to 90 days |
2 to 4 days |
Morphine |
2 days |
up to 90 days |
6 hours |
Heroin |
3 to 4 days |
up to 90 days |
6 hours |
LSD |
24 to 72 hours (however tests for LSD are very uncommon) |
up to 3 days] |
0 to 3 hours |
Methadone |
3 days |
up to 90 days |
24 hours |
PCP |
3 to 7 days for single use; up to 30 days in chronic users |
up to 90 days |
1 to 3 days |
- NOTE 1: Oral fluid or saliva testing results for the most part mimic that of blood. The only exceptions are THC and benzodiazepines. Oral fluid will likely detect THC from ingestion up to a maximum period of 18-24 hours. Low saliva:plasma ratio continues to cause difficulty in oral fluid detection of benzodiazepines [3]
- NOTE 2: Urine cannot detect current drug use. It takes approximately 6-8 hours or more post-consumption for drug to be metabolized and excreted in urine. Similarly, hair requires two weeks, and sweat, seven days.
