Drug Detection Windows
Drug detection times indicate the period after you last took a drug, that drug testing can reveal its presence or resulting metabolites in your specimen. 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. Drug detection times are also affected by the type of specimen, the testing method, and cutoff levels.
Substance
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Proprietary or Street Names
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Medical Uses
|
Route of Administration
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DEA Schedule*
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Drug Detection Times
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Stimulants
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Amphetamine
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Biphetamine, Dexedrine; Black Beauties, Crosses, Hearts
|
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obesity, narcolepsy
|
Injected, oral, smoked, sniffed
|
II
|
1-2 days
|
Cocaine
|
Coke, Crack, Flake, Rocks, Snow
|
Local anesthetic, vasoconstrictor
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Injected, smoked, sniffed
|
II
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1-4 days
|
Methamphetamine
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Desoxyn; Crank, Crystal, Glass, Ice, Speed
|
ADHD, obesity, narcolepsy
|
Injected, oral, smoked, sniffed
|
II
|
1-2 days
|
Methylphenidate
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Ritalin
|
ADHD, narcolepsy
|
Injected, oral
|
II
|
1-2 days
|
Nicotine
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Habitrol patch, Nicorette gum, Nicotrol spray, Prostep patch; Cigars, Cigarettes, Smokeless tobacco, Snuff, Spit tobacco
|
Treatment for nicotine dependence
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Smoked, sniffed, oral, transdermal
|
Not Scheduled
|
1-2 days
|
Hallucinogens and Other Compounds
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LSD
|
Acid, Microdot
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None
|
Oral
|
I
|
8 hours
|
Mescaline
|
Buttons, Cactus, Mesc, Peyote
|
None
|
Oral
|
I
|
2-3 days
|
Phencyclidine & Analogs
|
PCP; Angel Dust, Boat, Hog, Love Boat
|
Anesthetic (veterinary)
|
Injected, oral, smoked
|
I, II
|
2-8 days
|
Psilocybin
|
Magic Mushroom, Purple Passion, Shrooms
|
None
|
Oral
|
I
|
8 hours
|
Amphetamine variants
|
DOB, DOM, MDA, MDMA; Adam, Ecstasy, STP, XTC
|
None
|
Oral
|
I
|
1-2 days
|
Marijuana
|
Blunt, Grass, Herb, Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, Smoke, Weed
|
None
|
Oral, smoked
|
I
|
1 day - 5 weeks
|
Hashish
|
Hash
|
None
|
Oral, smoked
|
I
|
1 day - 5 weeks
|
Tetrahydrocannabinol
|
Marinol, THC
|
Antiemetic
|
Oral, smoked
|
I, II
|
1 day - 5 weeks
|
Anabolic Steroids
|
Testosterone (T/E ratio), Stanazolol, Nandrolene
|
Hormone Replacement Therapy
|
Oral, injected
|
III
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Oral: up to 3 weeks (for testosterone and others); Injected: up to 3 months (Nandrolene up to 9 months)
|
Opioids and Morphine Derivatives
|
Codeine
|
Tylenol w/codeine, Robitussin A-C, Empirin w/codeine, Fiorinal w/codeine
|
Analgesic, antitussive
|
Injected, oral
|
II, III, IV
|
1-2 days
|
Heroin
|
Diacetylmorphine; Horse, Smack
|
None
|
Injected, smoked, sniffed
|
I
|
1-2 days
|
Methadone
|
Amidone, Dolophine, Methadose
|
Analgesic, treatment for opiate dependence
|
Injected, oral
|
II
|
1 day - 1 week
|
Morphine
|
Roxanol, Duramorph
|
Analgesic
|
Injected, oral, smoked
|
II, III
|
1-2 days
|
Opium
|
Laudanum, Paregoric; Dover's Powder
|
Analgesic, antidiarrheal
|
Oral, smoked
|
II, III, V
|
1-2 days
|
Depressants
|
Alcohol
|
Beer, Wine, Liquor
|
Antidote for methanol poisoning
|
Oral
|
Not Scheduled
|
6-10 hours
|
Barbiturates
|
Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, Phenobarbital; Barbs
|
Anesthetic, anticonvulsant, hypnotic, sedative
|
Injected, oral
|
II, III, IV
|
2-10 days
|
Benzodiazepines
|
Ativan, Halcion, Librium, Rohypnol, Valium; Roofies, Tranks, Xanax
|
Antianxiety, anticonvulsant, hypnotic, sedative
|
Injected, oral
|
IV
|
1-6 weeks
|
Methaqualone
|
Quaalude, Ludes
|
None
|
Oral
|
I
|
2 weeks
|
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.
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) –
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