The length of time any drug stays in your system will vary. This is true for both the illicit drug and the prescribed drug. In large part, it depends on your physiological makeup and metabolism.
The following chart gives approximate detection periods for each substance.[1] The ranges depend on amount and frequency of use, metabolic rate, body mass, age, overall health, and urine pH. For ease of use, the detection times of metabolites have been incorporated into each parent drug. For example, heroin and cocaine can only be detected for a few hours after use, but their metabolites can be detected for several days in urine. In this type of situation, we will report the (longer) detection times of the metabolites.
- NOTE 1: Oral fluid or saliva testing results for the most part mimic that of blood. The only exception is THC. Oral fluid will likely detect THC from ingestion up to a maximum period of 18-24 hours
- NOTE 2: Urine can not detect current drug use. It takes approximately 6-8 hours or more post-consumption for drug to be metabolized and excreted in urine.
| Substance | Time Range (urine) |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 3-5 days via Ethyl Gluconoride(EtG) metabolite or 10-12 hours via traditional method |
| Amphetamines (except meth) | 1 to 2 days |
| Methamphetamine | 2 to 4 days |
| Barbiturates (except phenobarbital) | 2 to 3 days |
| Phenobarbital | 7 to 14 days |
| Benzodiazepines | Therapeutic use: 3 days. Chronic use (over one year): 4 to 6 weeks |
| Cannabis | Single Use: 5 to 7 days or Prolonged Use: 3 to 4 weeks |
| Cocaine | 2 to 4 days |
| Codeine | 2 days |
| Cotinine (a break-down product of nicotine) | 2 to 4 days |
| Morphine | 2 days |
| Heroin | 2 days |
| LSD | 2 to 24 hours |
| Methadone | 3 days |
| PCP | 14 days; up to 30 days in chronic users |
