How Long Do Different Drugs Stay In Your Body?

How Long Do Different Drugs Stay In Your Body?

We’re not encouraging anyone to do drugs, but we’re also not going to pretend that our readers don’t do any. If you do and have to, say, take a drug test for a job, it may be helpful to know how long certain drugs stay in the places they’re most likely to check: your urine, blood and hair follicles.

This video by Business Insider is a quick and dirty breakdown of the approximate durations that certain drugs will remain in your system after their last use, but keep in mind that the drug’s metabolites could stick around longer than indicated. The timeline for you depends on your age, height, weight, amount of the drug used, how often you use them, your overall health and even your state of hydration. Here’s how it looks:

How long does alcohol stay in your body?

  • Urine: 3-5 days
  • Blood: 10-12 hours
  • Hair: Up to 90 days

How long does marijuana stay in your body?

  • Urine: 7-30 days
  • Blood: about 2 weeks
  • Hair: Up to 90 days

How long does amphetamines stay in your body?

  • Urine: 1-3 days
  • Blood: about 12 hours
  • Hair: Up to 90 days

How long do methamphetamines stay in your body?

  • Urine: 3-6 days
  • Blood: 24-36 hours
  • Hair: Up to 90 days

How long does cocaine stay in your body?

  • Urine: 3-4 days
  • Blood: 1-2 days
  • Hair: Up to 90 days

How long does heroin stay in your body?

  • Urine: 3-4 days
  • Blood: Up to 12 hours
  • Hair: Up to 90 days

How long does LSD stay in you body?

  • Urine: 1-3 days
  • Blood: 2-3 hours
  • Hair: Up to 3 days

How long does MDMA stay in your body?

  • Urine: 3-4 days
  • Blood: 1-2 days
  • Hair: Up to 90 days

Some workplaces typically test for THC (the active ingredient in marijuana), cocaine, opiates (heroin, vicodin, percocet, etc.), amphetamines, and phencyclidine (PCP). The test typically involves peeing in a cup. In rarer cases, they also check saliva, blood, or hair.

These aren’t hard ranges, especially if you’re a chronic and heavy user. For example, a first-time weed-smoker might be able to pass the urine test within a couple of days. Long-time, heavy smokers, however, might have to wait at least 10 days. The best thing to do is to just stop using if you know you have to be tested periodically.


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