Employers often require their employees to take drug tests. If an employee tests positive for drugs, they may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Similarly, parents may want to know if their children are using drugs so they can get them the help they need. But how long do drugs stay in your system? 

How long drugs stay in your system depends on many factors, including which drug is being used, how often the drug is used, the method of administration, and the individual’s metabolism. Generally speaking, however, most drugs can be detected in urine for up to three days after use. Blood tests can detect drugs for a shorter period of time, usually around 24 hours. Hair follicle tests are the most sensitive, as they can detect drug use for up to 90 days. 

There are some drugs, however, that stay in your system for much longer periods of time. For example, THC—the active ingredient in marijuana—can be detected in urine for up to 30 days after use. Amphetamines and methamphetamines can be detected for up to three months after use. And alcohol can be detected in urine for up to 80 hours after use.

Drugs And How Long They Typically Last In Your System

• Amphetamine: Can stay in your system from 2 to 90 days, depending on the dosage and the user’s metabolic rate.
• Benzodiazepines: Can stay in your system anywhere from 7 hours to 30 days, depending on the type of Benzodiazepine consumed. 
• Buprenorphine: Typically will last between 24 and 60 hours. However, enough can lead to results showing up between 1 to 1.5 weeks.
• Cocaine: Will show up on test results between 24 hours and 90 days after the last dose.
• Methamphetamine: Methamphetamines will stay in your system and show up on tests from anywhere between 24 hours and 90 days.
• Methadone: Methadone, or EDDP-2, will last in your system up to 14 days. 
• MDMA: Can last in your system and show up on tests anywhere between 2 and 90 days.
• Opioids: Can stay in your system anywhere between a few hours to 90 days.
• Oxycodone: Lasts between 3 and 90 days.
• PCP: Depending on the type of test, PCP can be detected within minutes of ingesting to upwards of 90 days. 
• Tricyclic Antidepressants: Lasts between 1 to 5 days in your system. 
• Marijuana: Marijuana can last anywhere between 12 hours and 90 days within your system.
• Tramadol: Detectable in your system between 12 hours and 6 months.
• K2/Spice: K2, or Spice can stay in your system up to 41 days.
• Kratom: Stays in your system just over 5 days. 
• Ketamine: Will stay in your system for 1-3 days, but can show up on drug tests for months. 
• Fentanyl: Will show up on tests between 24 hours and 3 months, depending on the test used.
• Alcohol: Stays in your system between 48-72 hours.

If you’re looking for a way to test for any of the listed drugs above, simply check out our list of urine drug testing cups today!