Drug Detection Times by Test Type: The Complete Guide

I. Introduction

If you're facing a drug test—whether for a new job, a probation check, or an insurance application—you're probably wondering how long substances stay in your system. The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. Detection times depend on what you’ve taken, how often you use it, your body chemistry, and the type of test being used.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about drug detection windows, including the science behind different testing methods like urine, saliva, hair, and blood. We'll cover how long common substances such as THC, alcohol, opiates, amphetamines, and even nicotine and psychedelics can be detected.

You’ll also learn what factors can affect detection times—and how to navigate them. If you’re on a tight timeline, we’ve included links to detox solutions and practical resources to help you stay informed and prepared.

Let’s start by understanding how drug tests actually work.

II. How Drug Tests Work

Drug tests don’t look for the drug itself—they look for the metabolites your body creates as it processes the substance. Each drug has a unique metabolic signature and half-life, which affects how long it can be detected. The more often you use a substance, and the more your body stores it in fat cells, the longer it typically sticks around.

Another factor is test sensitivity, which refers to how low of a concentration the test can detect. Each testing method also has a cutoff level—a threshold below which results are reported as negative, even if trace amounts are present. This is why two people who use the same drug at the same time might get different results depending on the test type and their personal chemistry.

Some substances are more likely to show up on specific test types than others. For example, THC tends to linger in urine but may be undetectable in blood after a few days. Psychedelics often go unnoticed unless a lab is looking for them specifically.

III. Test Types Explained

A. Urine Tests

Urine testing is by far the most common method used in pre-employment, clinical, and legal settings. It's favored for its affordability, ease of administration, and ability to detect a wide range of substances. Most drugs are detectable in urine for 1 to 7 days, though some—like THC in frequent users—can remain traceable for much longer. Urine tests are particularly effective at identifying recent or routine use, and most labs rely on established cutoff levels to reduce false positives.

B. Blood Tests

Blood testing is highly accurate and typically used when immediate impairment is in question, such as in accidents or law enforcement cases. It measures the actual presence of the parent drug in the bloodstream, not just its metabolites. However, drugs generally clear from blood quickly—often within hours to a day—making this method most effective for detecting very recent use. Blood tests are also invasive, require trained professionals, and are more expensive than other methods.

C. Saliva Tests

Saliva (oral fluid) testing is becoming more popular due to its non-invasive nature and quick turnaround time. It's especially useful in detecting drug use within the past few hours to two days, making it ideal for roadside or workplace screening where recent impairment is a concern. However, it has a shorter detection window than urine or hair testing and may be less reliable for some substances without advanced lab processing.

D. Hair Follicle Tests

Hair testing offers the longest detection window of all mainstream drug test types—often capturing drug use from up to 90 days prior. As hair grows, drug metabolites are incorporated into the hair shaft, providing a timeline of substance use. While highly effective for spotting long-term patterns, hair tests are less useful for detecting recent use (within the past week), and they tend to be more expensive. They're often used in legal, forensic, and probationary contexts.

E. Sweat or Patch Tests

Sweat tests involve wearing a skin patch over several days or weeks to monitor continuous drug use. These are less commonly used but are favored in court-ordered drug monitoring, rehab programs, or child custody cases where ongoing compliance is necessary. The patch absorbs sweat and any drug metabolites released through the skin, offering a tamper-resistant solution—but with limited drug coverage and lower popularity outside specialized programs.

In the next section, we’ll break down detection times by drug—from alcohol and nicotine to THC, opiates, and psychedelics.

IV. Drug Detection by Substance (A–Z)

A. Alcohol

Alcohol has a relatively short detection window, but factors like age, body weight, liver health, and how much you drank can all influence how long it stays in your system. Most tests check for ethanol or its metabolites like ethyl glucuronide (EtG).

• Urine: 12–48 hours (up to 80 hours with EtG)
• Blood: Up to 12 hours
• Saliva: Up to 24 hours
• Hair: Up to 90 days

Chronic drinkers may have longer detection periods due to liver enzyme adaptation.

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B. Amphetamines

Amphetamines, including prescription Adderall and illicit methamphetamine, are detectable for varying durations depending on the form, dosage, and frequency of use. Acute users eliminate it faster than chronic users.

• Urine: 1–4 days
• Blood: Up to 24 hours
• Saliva: 1–2 days
• Hair: Up to 90 days

High doses or extended-release forms may lengthen detection.

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C. Benzodiazepines

Commonly prescribed for anxiety and insomnia, benzos like Xanax, Ativan, and Valium are fat-soluble, meaning they accumulate in the body and linger longer—especially with chronic use.

• Urine: 3–6 weeks (chronic); 3–7 days (acute)
• Blood: 6–48 hours
• Saliva: 1–10 days
• Hair: Up to 90 days

Long-acting variants like Valium are detectable longer than short-acting ones like Xanax.

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D. Cocaine

Cocaine has a short half-life but leaves behind metabolites like benzoylecgonine that stick around longer. It’s rapidly absorbed and eliminated, especially in casual users.

• Urine: 2–4 days
• Blood: 12–48 hours
• Saliva: 1–2 days
• Hair: Up to 90 days

Heavy or repeated use can lead to detection windows of a week or more.

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E. Heroin

Heroin is a fast-acting opioid that quickly metabolizes into morphine. It shares a detection window with other opiates but has a shorter half-life, making timing critical for blood or saliva tests.

• Urine: 2–7 days
• Blood: 6 hours
• Saliva: 5–6 hours
• Hair: Up to 90 days

It’s often detected under the general “opiates” panel unless labs test specifically for heroin metabolites.

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F. Nicotine

Nicotine itself clears quickly, but its main metabolite, cotinine, is what’s measured on drug tests—especially for life insurance or cessation programs.

• Urine: 3–4 days (chronic use: up to 3 weeks)
• Blood: 1–3 days
• Saliva: 1–4 days
• Hair: Up to 90 days

Detection can vary dramatically depending on smoking frequency, product type (vapes vs tobacco), and metabolism.

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G. Opiates

This category includes morphine and codeine but excludes synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Detection times depend on whether use is therapeutic or recreational.

• Urine: 2–5 days
• Blood: 6–24 hours
• Saliva: 1–4 days
• Hair: Up to 90 days

Opiates are often confused with opioids, which may require specialized panels to detect.

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H. Psychedelics

Psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin (mushrooms), DMT, ketamine, and mescaline are rarely tested for in standard panels. However, custom screens can detect them, especially for court or rehab programs.

• Urine: 1–3 days
• Blood: Up to 12 hours
• Saliva: Limited data
• Hair: Up to 90 days

Functional mushroom blends like Wunderland are legal and typically undetectable—but always verify ingredients.

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I. THC (Cannabis)

THC is notoriously persistent in the body—especially for frequent users. It’s fat-soluble and stores in adipose tissue, leading to extended detection times even after cessation.

• Urine: 3–30+ days (chronic use)
• Blood: 1–7 days
• Saliva: Up to 72 hours
• Hair: Up to 90 days

Occasional users may clear it within a week, but daily users may need over a month.

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J. MDMA (Ecstasy)

MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy or molly, is a synthetic stimulant with hallucinogenic properties. It produces intense feelings of euphoria, empathy, and energy—but it also leaves behind detectable metabolites that drug tests can pick up, especially after moderate to heavy use.

• Urine: 1–3 days (up to 5 days for heavy use)
• Blood: Up to 24 hours
• Saliva: 1–2 days
• Hair: Up to 90 days

Detection windows vary depending on factors like dosage, frequency, body mass, and hydration. MDMA is structurally similar to amphetamines, so some tests may flag it under that broader category unless specifically targeted in a multi-panel screening.

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H. Kratom

Kratom, derived from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa plant, contains alkaloids like mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine that can be detected on specialized drug tests. While most standard panels won’t flag kratom, certain court-ordered, military, or rehab screenings may include it.

• Urine: Up to 5–7 days
• Blood: Up to 24 hours
• Saliva: Limited data
• Hair: Possibly up to 90 days

Detection depends on factors like dose, frequency of use, metabolism, age, and hydration. Kratom is rarely part of pre-employment panels but could be included in expanded or custom screens.

👉 Does kratom show up on a drug test?

Substance	Urine	Blood	Saliva	Hair
Alcohol	12–48 hrs (EtG: up to 80 hrs)	Up to 12 hrs	Up to 24 hrs	Up to 90 days
Amphetamines	1–4 days	Up to 24 hrs	1–2 days	Up to 90 days
Benzodiazepines	3–6 weeks (chronic)	6–48 hrs	1–10 days	Up to 90 days
Cocaine	2–4 days	12–48 hrs	1–2 days	Up to 90 days
Heroin	2–7 days	Up to 6 hrs	5–6 hrs	Up to 90 days
Kratom	Up to 5–7 days	Up to 24 hrs	Limited data	Possibly up to 90 days
Nicotine	3–4 days (chronic: up to 3 weeks)	1–3 days	1–4 days	Up to 90 days
Opiates	2–5 days	6–24 hrs	1–4 days	Up to 90 days
Psychedelics	1–3 days	Up to 12 hrs	Limited data	Up to 90 days
THC (Cannabis)	3–30+ days	1–7 days	Up to 72 hrs	Up to 90 days
MDMA (Ecstasy)	1–3 days (up to 5 days heavy use)	Up to 24 hrs	1–2 days	Up to 90 days

V. What Affects Detection Times?

While drug detection timelines are often presented as simple ranges, the truth is far more nuanced. Several personal and situational factors can significantly influence how long a substance stays detectable in your body—and what might register on a test for one person could be completely different for another.

Frequency of use is one of the most important variables. A first-time or occasional user may eliminate a drug much faster than someone who uses it regularly, especially if the substance is fat-soluble like THC.

Your body weight and fat composition also matter. Drugs that bind to fat cells (like cannabis or benzos) may linger longer in individuals with higher body fat percentages. Meanwhile, your metabolism, influenced by age, genetics, and activity level, controls how quickly your body processes and clears substances.

Hydration and physical activity can dilute or accelerate excretion, especially for urine tests. However, this won’t trick all labs—some look for overly diluted samples.

The type, dose, and purity of the drug used can also skew detection times. High doses, extended-release formulas, or unregulated street drugs with unknown potency all increase variability.

Lastly, test sensitivity and cutoff thresholds determine what will actually trigger a positive result. A low dose might go undetected on a standard panel, but register on a more advanced or purpose-specific test.

If you want to support your body’s natural detox process, consider exploring our curated collection of detox drinks.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most frequently asked questions on this topic.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions About Drug Detection