Drug Detection Times

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 in human urine. For oral drug detection times see Saliva Drug Detection Window.

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 subject’s physical condition, overall body fluid balance, state of hydration and frequency of usage. To know for sure if you another person is or will show up clean, perform a drug test!

Often drug users ask about detoxing or detoxification information and/or what is required to pass a drug test. For general information, see our, Detox-Pass A Drug Test page.

Drug Detection Times in Urine - Drug Detection Window

Drug detection times 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 (marijuana's active ingredient) 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.

See also Drug Detection Times In Saliva

Drug Detection Times in Urine
Drug / Drug Group	Time Range	Where To Buy Drug Test
Alcohol	Alcohol Detection Time: 24 hours or less	Alcohol Drug Test
Amphetamines	Amphetamine Detection Time: 1 to 4 days	Amphetamines Drug Test
Barbiturates	Barbiturates Detection Time: Short-acting: 1 to 3 days	Barbiturates Drug Test
Long-acting (Barbital, Phenobarbital): 1 to 3 weeks
Benzodiazepines	Benzodiazepines Detection Time: Short-term Therapeutic Use: 1 to 3 days	Benzodiazepines Drug Test
Long-term / Chronic Use: 1 to 3 weeks
Cocaine	Cocaine Detection Time: 1 to 5 days	Cocaine Drug Test
Cotinine	See "Nicotine" below
LSD	1 to 2 days (in human body, longer on surfaces)	LSD Drug Test
Marijuana (THC)	Marijuana Detection Time: Casual Use: 1 to 7 days	Marijuana Drug Test
Long-Term / Chronic Use: 1 to 4 weeks
Note: THC, marijuana's primary active ingredient, 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	Ecstasy Detection Time (MDMA): 1 to 4 days	Ecstasy Drug Test - MDMA
Methadone	1 to 4 days	Methadone Drug Test
Methamphetamines	Meth Detection Time: 1 to 4 days	Methamphetamines Drug Test - METH
Nicotine (cotinine)	Cotinine Detection Time: 2 to 3 days	Cotinine Test - Nicotine
Opiate	Opiate Detection Time: 1 to 5 days	Opiate Drug Test
Oxycodone	Oxycodone Detection Time: 1 to 4 days	Oxycodone Drug Test
PCP (phencyclidine)	Casual Use: 1 to 7 days	PCP Drug Test
	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.

Need to find out if you or someone your love is clean and free of drugs? Then perform a drug test today!

This web page details drug detection times in urine, including THC in urine detection. For more information, see drug detection chart above.

Drug Detection Times

How long do drugs stay in your system?

Drug Detection Times in Urine - Drug Detection Window

Drug Detection Times in Urine

Drug / Drug Group

Time Range

Where To Buy Drug Test

Long-acting (Barbital, Phenobarbital): 1 to 3 weeks

Long-term / Chronic Use: 1 to 3 weeks

Long-Term / Chronic Use: 1 to 4 weeks

Long-Term / Chronic Use: 1 to 4 weeks