How Long Do Drugs Stay in the Body?

How Long Do Drugs Stay in the Body?

When people get drug tested at work, there are ways to tell how long substances have been in the body. Whether it is urine, hair, or blood, the likelihood of any drugs showing up if you use drugs is pretty possible. The best way to pass a drug test is to permanently quit using drugs, but many people still try to pass tests while using drugs. Learn more about the process of drug testing, how it works, and why you should consider quitting drugs. 

Detecting Drugs

Substances stay in the body at varying lengths depending on many factors. Every person metabolizes drugs differently, so that is one factor, along with how long ago it was and other things like hair follicle tests, urine tests, and other testing methods. The rate will vary according to other things like physical activity, body mass, age, and weight. Medical experts do not always know how long substances stay in the body per se, but they can find accurate estimations for the length of time a drug may be detectable in hair, blood, and urine. 

Substances in the Body

Some average times that drugs show up in the body in drug tests depend on the type of drug but range from a few days to a week. Some of the following are drugs that are commonly used and how long they may stay in the body:

  • Cocaine: 2-3 days
  • Meth: 2-3 days
  • MDMA: 2-4 days
  • Heroin: 1-3 days

The Real Deal

When it comes to using drugs and reporting to work, nobody should be using substances and clocking in. sometimes people think using on the weekends is not ‘being addicted’ or having a problem, but it can be problematic if you show up for work with drugs in your system because you are not able to perform the job well and may even put yourself or others in jeopardy. If you go to work sweating drug tests and find it stressful, you may find it helpful to look into rehab and recovery options. It is possible to stop abusing drugs with the right therapeutic support, treatment, and recovery options. Addiction is a disease that sticks with you for a lifetime, but you can stay in recovery and keep working your program. If you think that you have a chronic problem you cannot overcome, contact a local rehab facility that may be able to help or ask loved ones for support. There is no better time than the present to seek help for addiction. 

The Palmetto Center is based on a Therapeutic Communty model. We help people learn how to live free of addiction. Our community support provides structure while trained counselors offer life skills training and therapeutic techniques to help you move past addiction. Our program provides a special focus for professionals including chiropractors, nurses, doctors, lawyers, and more who need help with addiction recovery. Call us to find out more: 866-848-3001.