How Long Do Drugs Stay In Your System?

A drug is defined as any substance that, when absorbed by an individual, changes the way that one’s body functions. Generally, when one considers “drugs” one thinks about the illegal drugs such as opioids, hallucinogens, amphetamines, or cannabis. The length that drugs stay in your system depends heavily on the drug that you are considering.

There are several factors that influence how long a drug stays in your system. Drugs are absorbed into your blood stream when you take them. Thus, how soon a drug leaves your system depends on how quickly your body is able to metabolize the drug.

1. Metabolism. Certain drugs take longer to metabolize, but individuals with higher metabolic rates are able to metabolize the drugs more quickly than others.
2. Age. Your age influences how quickly a drug can leave your system. As you age, your metabolic rate slows. The older the individual, the longer the drug will stay in his or her system.
3. Amount and Frequency. The amount and frequency of a drug that an individual consumes influences how long the drug stays in his or her system. The more frequently a drug is taken, the higher the concentration that your body has to process. Accumulated tolerance for a drug means that it may get metabolized more quickly than a first time user.
4. BMI. Your body mass index also influences the amount of time a drug stays in your body. Generally, the higher your body mass, the longer the drug stays in your system.
5. Fitness. Drugs like THC or PCP often become accumulated in the fatty tissues of your body. When they become accumulated in the fatty tissues of your body, it takes longer to leave the body. Thus, individuals who rarely exercise, or have a higher amount of fat in their bodies will have those drugs in their system for longer.

Information about Specific Drugs

As discussed above, the amount of time a drug stays in your body depends on which drug is being taken.

• Amphetamines tend to stay in one’s body for about one to four days (depending on the factors discussed above).
• Barbiturates and benzodiazepines stay in the body for about one to three days after they are originally consumed.
• Cocaine remains in your body for anywhere between one to five days after you first take it.
• A drug such as LSD remains in your body for about one to two days.
• A drug such as THC can be detected in a urine test up to a month after it was first taken. If a hair test is used, THC can be detected for up to three years.
• Such drugs as Ecstasy, MMDA, Methadone, and methamphetamines remain in the body for about four days after they are taken.
• If you take opiates, this will stay in your body for about five days.
• A drug such as PCP will stay in your body for about a full week after intake. However, you should note that any one of the factors above might influence PCP to stay in your system for as long as weeks or months.