There are many misconceptions and rumors surrounding how long specific drugs actually stay in a person’s system. While tolerance and frequency of use do play a small role in determining this, it really is dependent mostly on the type of drug and the type of drug test a lab is using to detect it. Discover how long drugs can be detected in your system, depending on the type of drug and drug test.
Urine drug tests
Urine drug tests are the most common. Most people will complete at least one urine drug test in their lifetime. Many employers require these types of drug tests from employees. This is also a common method used in the court system. Below is a brief breakdown of some of the detectability timelines for popularly used drugs. Keep in mind, these are general rules, and the timeframes will vary slightly for every person, depending on many factors.
Marijuana
Marijuana is typically detectable in a person’s urine for about 72 hours after usage.
Cocaine
Cocaine is typically detectable in a person’s urine for about 72 hours after usage.
Opioids
While each type of opioid is slightly different, most will stay detectable in a person’s urine for about 72 hours after usage.
Blood drug tests
Blood drug tests are one of the more invasive methods of drug screening. These are not as common but are performed regularly in certain situations. Below is an overview of how long drugs certain popular drugs can be detected in your system. These are general estimates and do not apply accurately to every person.
Marijuana
Marijuana is typically detectable in a person’s blood for about four hours after usage.
Cocaine
Cocaine is typically detectable in a person’s blood for about 24 hours after usage.
Opioids
While each type of opioid is slightly different, most will stay detectable in a person’s blood for about 48 hours after usage.
Hair drug tests
Hair drug tests are also quite common and have the longest range of detectability for most types of drugs. Explore the average amount of time certain popular drugs stay detectable in a person’s hair. These are general estimates and do not reflect every person’s experiences, as there are many factors that contribute to how long drugs stay in a person’s system.
Marijuana
Marijuana is typically detectable in a person’s hair for about 90 days after usage.
Cocaine
Cocaine is typically detectable in a person’s hair for about 90 days after usage.
Opioids
While each type of opioid is slightly different, most will stay detectable in a person’s hair for about 90 days after usage.
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