How long do drugs stay in your system?

The type of drugs that are consumed or taken into the body determines how long the drugs will stay in your body. The effects of drugs vary from drug to drug. Some drugs can last days, months in your body, while others last for hours or minutes. Also, the frequency of use, way of administering them, and hydration also play a major role in how long drugs last in your body. 

In order to determine how long drugs stay in your system, you have to undergo a drug test. This could be for various reasons, such as employee testing, court order, child custody, divorce, legal cases, sports competition, and probation. That’s why it’s important to know how long whatever you are taking into your system is going to last there.

What are drugs?

Drugs are any substance taken into the body which can affect the way your mind and body function. They have side effects and most often change the way you feel, behave and think. They can be prescribed, illegal, or illicit, it depends on the motive of the user.

Things that determine the length of drugs stay in your system 

There are various determinants to how long drugs stay in your system, which ranges from the route of use down to the type of drugs taken. If you are asking the question “how long do drugs stay in your system?” Then it’s important to know the factors that cause it. Which are listed below

•  Body size

• Type of drugs consumed

• Administration frequency 

• Level of hydration 

• Weight 

• Level of drug tolerance

• Amount of drug consumed

• Ethical background

• Physical activities 

• Medical issues/conditions

• Gender

• Metabolic rate. 

What are the types of drug tests?

There are various types of drug tests that are used to determine if one has an element of drugs in their system. The accuracy of the tests depends on the frequency of use, amount consumed, type of drug consumed, and the person's blood type, among other things. Below are the types of drug tests that are available.

• Blood Drug Test

This test only shows the type of substance that is in the blood and not the chemical left after the effect of the drugs has faded off. Blood drugs are not often used because they detect drugs in the system for a day or a few hours. It is very invasive compared to the other types of drug tests.

• Urine Drug Test 

This test is often used to detect drugs in the human body systems because it can detect the type of used several days earlier before the test is done. It is less expensive and very accurate. It involves testing the urine in a commercial drug testing lab where its metabolism is analyzed.

• Saliva Drug Test

This involves analyzing one’s spit to detect the drugs used by that person. This type of drug test is less common and detects drugs in the system only for a few hours or two days.

• Hair Drug Test

This is the most expensive form of drug test and also the only type that can detect drug presence in a system dating back to two months of usage. This involves the removal of a strand of hair which can be done at home or in a medical setting.

How long do drugs stay in your system?

Presence of a lot of drugs can still be found in the system from 2 to 4 days even after usage, but drugs such as marijuana can stay in the system for 3 to 4 weeks or longer, especially if used more frequently. Below are different drugs and the different times they stay in the body. 

Some drugs can stay in your system for a long period, especially if used frequently. The best way to keep a clean drug test result is to abstain from taking drugs.