variables including the body's • Overall Health: In general, human

116 Court Street, Suite B1,
Plymouth, MA 02360
How long do drugs
remain in your system?
Drug Test Detection Times refer to
the "window" of detection for drugs of
abuse. If a person is tested too soon or
too long after use, drugs may not show
up in human urine. Often someone will
ask us, How long do drugs stay in the
body? This short guide will help to
answer that question. For the purposes
of clarity, this guide is a reference for
the detection of drugs of abuse found
in human urine.
Full disclaimer this is a guide.
How long do drugs stay in your system?
The length of time that the presence of
drugs of abuse in the body can be
detected is an important factor in drug
screening. The chart below outlines
approximate duration times. When
interpreting the duration for the
presence of drugs of abuse in the body,
you must take into consideration
variables including the body's
metabolism, the subjects physical
condition, overall body fluid balance,
state of hydration and frequency of
usage.
Drug Detection Times in urine are
expressed below in terms of lower and
upper boundaries. The amount of time
that a drug/metabolite remains
detectable in urine can vary, depending
on the following factors:
• Amount and Frequency of Use: Single,
isolated, small doses are generally
detectable at the lower boundary.
Chronic and long-term use typically
result in detection periods near or at
the upper boundary.
• Metabolic Rate: Individuals with
slower body metabolism are prone to
longer drug detection periods.
• Body Mass: In general, human
metabolism slows with increased body
mass, resulting in longer drug detection
periods. In addition, THC (the active
ingredient in marijuana) and PCP are
known to accumulate in fatty lipid
tissue. Chronic users, physically inactive
users, and individuals with a high
percentage of body fat in relation to
total body mass are prone to longer
drug detection periods for THC and
PCP.
• Age: In general, human metabolism
slows with age, resulting in longer drug
detection periods.
• Overall Health: In general, human
metabolism slows during periods of
deteriorating health, resulting in longer
drug detection periods.
• Drug Tolerance: Users typically
metabolize a drug faster once a
tolerance to the drug is established.
• Urine pH: Urine pH can impact drug
detection periods. Typically, highly
acidic urine results in shorter drug
detection periods.
• Note: In a small percentage of cases,
users may test positive longer than
times shown - most notably in cases of
long-term chronic abuse, in individuals
with significant body mass and/or body
fat, and in individuals with health
related issues resulting in abnormally
slow body metabolism.
Drug Detection Times in Urine
Drug / Drug Group Time Range
• Alcohol 24 hours or less
• Amphetamines 1 to 4 days
• Barbiturates Short-acting: 1 to 3 days
Long-acting (Barbital, Phenobarbital): 1
to 3 weeks
• Benzodiazepines Short-term
Therapeutic Use: 1 to 3 days
Long-term / Chronic Use: 1 to 3 weeks
• Cocaine 1 to 5 days
• LSD 1 to 2 days
• Marijuana (THC) Casual Use: 1 to 7
days
Long-Term / Chronic Use: 1 to 4 weeks
Note: THC, the primary active
ingredient in marijuana, is stored by the
body in fatty lipid tissue. From there, it
is slowly released into the bloodstream
for up to several weeks - depending on
the amount and frequency of use and
the user's level of physical activity. In
chronic and physically inactive users,
THC may accumulate in fatty tissues
faster than it can be eliminated. This
accumulation leads to longer detection
periods for these individuals. Also,
users with a high percentage of body
fat in relation to total body mass are
prone to longer drug detection periods
for marijuana.
• MDMA (Ecstasy) 1 to 4 days
• Methadone 1 to 4 days
• Methamphetamines 1 to 4 days
• Opiates 1 to 5 days
• PCP (Phencyclidine) Casual Use: 1 to 7
days
Long-Term / Chronic Use: 1 to 4 weeks
Note: PCP is stored by the body in fatty
lipid tissue. From there, it is slowly
released into the bloodstream for up to
several weeks - depending on the
amount and frequency of use and the
user's level of physical activity. In
chronic and physically inactive users,
PCP may accumulate in fatty tissues
faster than it can be eliminated. This
accumulation leads to longer detection
periods for these individuals. Also,
users with a high percentage of body
fat in relation to total body mass are
prone to longer drug detection periods
for PCP.
For complete information on Drug
Testing, visit
Drug Classes and Descriptions:
THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol/Marijuana)
This drug can be either a stimulant or a
sedative depending on the strain used.
It is either smoked or eaten and causes
a feeling of being "high" for several
hours after use. Several regularly
observed physical effects are an
increase in heart rate, bloodshot eyes,
dry mouth, dry throat and increase in
appetite. Use of this drug may decrease
short-term memory and comprehension,
alter the sense of time and reduce
ability to perform certain tasks such as
driving a car. This drug can also produce
paranoia and psychosis. Some terms for
this drug are: marijuana, weed, grass,
pot, reefer, joint, roach, mary jane,
maui wowie, loco weed.
COC (Cocaine)
This drug has similar effects of alcohol.
If taken in small amounts it can produce
a calm state and relaxed muscles.
Larger doses can cause a slurring of
speech, staggered gait and an altered
perception. Very large doses can cause
a decrease in respirations, coma or
death. When in combination, alcohol and
depressants can multiply the effects of
both which would increase risk. Some
terms for this drug are: bump, coke,
snow, candy, toot and flake C. It can be
ingested by snorting, smoking, injection
or oral consumption. The substance is a
white crystalline powder usually mixed
with other substances such as corn
starch, powdered milk, sugars or flour.
M-AMP
(Methamphetamine/Speed/Ecstasy)
This drug is a stimulant and can cause
an increase in heart and respiratory
rates, along with elevated blood
pressure, dilated pupils and decrease in
appetite. Users may also experience
sweating, headache, blurred vision,
dizziness, sleeplessness and anxiety.
Very high doses can cause rapid or
irregular heartbeat, tremors, loss of
coordination and physical collapse.
When used in injection form there is a
sudden increase in blood pressure that
can result in stroke, very high fever or
heart failure. Users of this drug report
feeling restless, anxious and have mood
swings. With increased doses comes
increased effects. Users, over a long
period of time, can develop an
amphetamine psychosis which could
include hallucinations, delusions and
paranoia.
AMP (Amphetamine)
Amphetamines are substances taken to
boost energy, mood and confidence, as
well as to suppress
appetite(Amphetamine is a collective
term given to amphetamines,
dextroamphetamines and
methamphetamines, all of which act
similarly in the body. Out of these,
methamphetamines are the strongest.
(In the 1930s, they were used in nasal
decongestants and to treat narcolepsy,
ADHD and minimal brain dysfunction.)
OPI (Morphine and Heroin
This drug is also a stimulant and has
similar effects as methamphetamine
(ecstasy). Terms for this drug are:
white stuff, miss emma, monkey, "M".
The form is usually white crystals,
hypodermic tablets or injectable
solutions. Ingestion can be either orally,
smoked or through injection.
OxyContin is a tradename for the
narcotic oxycodone hydrochloride (HCl),
an opiate agonist. Oxycodone, a
semisynthetic opioid derived from the
opioid alkaloid thebaine, is similar to
codeine, methadone, and morphine in
producing opiate-like effects. Source: DEA
Drug Intelligence Brief, "OxyContin: Pharmaceutical
Diversion." March 2002
Oxycodone is a Schedule II drug under
the Controlled Substances Act because
of its high propensity to cause
dependence and abuse.
PCP (Phencyclidine)
This drug interrupts the functions of
the neocortex, the part of the brain
which controls intellect and instinct.
The drug also blocks pain receptors
which could cause violent PCP episodes
resulting in self-inflicted injuries. PCP
effects vary, but most frequently there
is a sense of distance and
estrangement. Time and body
movements slow down and muscular
coordination worsens along with the
senses being dulled. Speech is blocked
and incoherent. After chronic use there
is paranoid and violent behavior along
with hallucinations. Large doses of this
drug could produce convulsions, coma, as
well as heart and lung failure. This drug
is a hallucinogen.
BZO (Benzodiazepines)
Sedative-hypnotics are Central Nervous
System (CNS) depressants and are a
category of drugs that slow normal
brain function. There are numerous
CNS depressants; most act on the brain
by affecting the neurotransmitter
gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals
that facilitate communication between
brain cells. GABA works by decreasing
brain activity. Although the different
classes of CNS depressants work in
unique ways, ultimately it is through
their ability to increase GABA activity
that they produce a drowsy or calming
effect that is beneficial to those
suffering from anxiety or sleep
disorders.
BAR (Barbiturates)
These drugs are central nervous system
depressants. They are typically used as
sedatives, hypnotics and
anticonvulsants. The usual method of
ingestion is by oral capsules or tablets.
The symptoms seen when someone is
taking these drugs looks like those of
being intoxicated with alcohol. Chronic
use of barbiturates will lead to physical
dependence and higher levels of
tolerance. There are short-acting
barbiturates such as Secobarbital
(Seconal) which when taken for 2 to 3
months can produce physical
dependence. There are also long-acting
barbiturates such as Phenobarbital
(Nembutal and Luminal). Some other
terms for barbiturates are: Amobabital
(Amytal), Yellow Jackets, Reds, Blues,
Amy's, and Rainbows.
Drug Class Continue…..
MTD (Methadone)
Methadone is used for treatment of
moderate to severe pain and for opiate
dependence of such drugs as heroin,
Vicodin, Percocet and morphine. This
drug is a narcotic analgesic and in most
States a person must go to a pain clinic
or methadone maintenance clinic for
this prescription. This is a long-acting
pain reliever which lasts from
approximately 12 to 48 hours after
ingestion. The withdrawal from
methadone is more prolonged than that
of heroin. Some other terms for
methadone are: Amidone, burdock,
dollies, jungle juice, junk, dolls, mud,
phyamps, red rock, tootsie roll, fizzies,
balloons, breaze, buzz bomb, and
cartridges.
TCA (Tricyclic Antidepressants)
These drugs are typically used for the
treatment of depression type
disorders. Overdoses can produce
central nervous system depression and
heart disorders. Tricyclic
antidepressants are the most common
cause of death from prescription drugs.
These medications are taken orally and
sometimes by injection. Some names for
drugs which are tricyclic
antidepressants are: amitriptyline
(Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin),
imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline
(Pamelor) and protriptyline (Vivactil).
Helpful Links:
The following is a chart showing the minimum and
maximum detection time, on average, that
certain drugs stay in a person's system.*
Substance
Minimum
Alcohol
Amphetamines (AMP)
Barbiturates (BAR)
Maximum
24 hours
2-7 hours
2-4 days
4 to 6 hours
4.5 days for
short acting
10 days for
long-acting
Benzodiazepines (BZO)
4 to 6 hours up to 10 days
Buprenorphine (BUP)
4 to 6 hours up to 10 days
Cannabinoids (THC)
2 Hours
Infrequent
user: up to 10
days
Chronic user: 6
weeks
Cocaine Metabolite (COC)
1.25 - 4
hours
2-3 days
30 days or
longer
Cotinine (NIC)
Methadone (MTD)
2-7 hours
2-4 days
Methamphetamine (MAMP)
2-7 hours
2-4 days
Methaqualone
Up to 10 days
Methylenedioxymethamphetam
2-4 hours
ine (MDMA)
1-3 days
Opiates (OPI)
2.5 hours
2-3 days
Oxycodone (OXY)
2.5 hours
2-3 days
Phencyclidine (PCP)
4-6 hours
7-14 days
Propoxyphene
4-6 hours
7-14 days
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA) 4-6 hours
up to 10 days
http://www.passyourdrugtest.com/tim
etable.htm
http://www.dol.gov/elaws/asp/drugfre
e/drugs/screen92.asp
http://www.drugfree.org/drug-guide
www.DrugTestingResource.com