How Far Back Do Drug Tests Go?

Drug testing is used in workplaces, legal settings, and addiction treatment programs to determine if someone has used drugs recently or in the past. But how far back can a drug test detect substances? The answer depends on several factors, including the type of test used, the drug itself, and a person’s metabolism.

Some drugs exit the body in just a few hours, while others can remain detectable for weeks or even months. If you’re facing a drug test, it’s important to understand how long different substances stay in your system and what factors influence detection times.

Factors Influencing How Long Drugs Remain in the Body

No two people metabolize drugs the same way, which is why detection times can vary widely. Several key factors determine how long drugs stay in the body and show up on a test:

  • Type of drug – Different substances break down at different rates. For example, alcohol is metabolized quickly and usually exits the body within a day, while marijuana can linger in fat cells and show up in urine samples for weeks, especially in heavy users.
  • Frequency of use – One-time or occasional use of a drug typically clears from the system faster than regular or chronic use. Someone who smokes marijuana once may test clean in a few days, while a daily user might still test positive after a month or longer.
  • Metabolism and body composition – A person’s metabolism plays a major role in how quickly drugs are processed and eliminated. Factors like age, weight, hydration, liver function, and overall health can speed up or slow down drug clearance rates.
  • Type of test used – The kind of drug test being administered makes a big difference in how far back it can detect drug use. Blood, saliva, and urine drug tests are used to detect recent drug use, while hair follicle tests can show drug use from months ago.
  • Hydration and diet – Drinking plenty of water can sometimes help clear certain substances faster, but it won’t speed up metabolism significantly. In contrast, dehydration can slow the elimination process and make drug traces more concentrated in urine.

Average Drug Test Detection Times by Substance and Drug Test Type

There are four different types of drug tests: urine, blood, saliva, and hair. Urine tests are the most common; they are cheap, non-invasive, and accurate. They are often used for pre-employment screenings and court-related purposes. Saliva tests are also common and easy to use because they only require a simple cheek swab or saliva sample.

Blood tests are more rare because they require a phlebotomist or healthcare professional to draw blood. They’re typically only used in medical settings and have the shortest detection window.

Hair tests are becoming more common because they can detect substances in the body for up to 90 days. However, these tests aren’t always accurate and can be ineffective on some hair types.

Different drugs stay in the body for different lengths of time. Below is an overview of how long drugs stay in your system based on the different commonly abused drugs and testing methods.

How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Your System?

Marijuana is the most commonly used psychoactive substance in the United States. About 78 million Americans have tried marijuana and 35 million are monthly users. As a result, it is one of the drugs most commonly detected on drug tests.

Drug tests can detect THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the primary active chemical in marijuana, for several weeks because THC is stored in fat cells. Heavy users may notice that marijuana stays in their system for up to a month.

  • Urine test – Up to 30 days
  • Saliva test – 48-72 hours
  • Blood test – 4-6 hours
  • Hair test – Up to 90 days

Synthetic marijuana, such as k2 or spice, doesn’t stay in your system as long as marijuana. In most instances, these substances leave the body within 48-72 hours.

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?

Cocaine is an illegal stimulant drug that comes in powder form and is usually snorted. Cocaine abuse can cause heart attacks, strokes, respiratory failure, overdose, seizures, and death. Additionally, a lot of the cocaine found on the streets today contains fentanyl, an opioid 100 times stronger than heroin and morphine.

  • Urine test – 3 days after the last dose
  • Saliva test – 24-28 hours
  • Blood test – 12-24 hours
  • Hair test – Up to three months (90 days)

Cocaine metabolizes quickly, but its breakdown products can still be found in urine for several days after use. Chronic use can extend detection times. Research shows about 1.5 million people are regular cocaine users.

How Long Do Opioids Stay in Your System?

Opioids are highly addictive and are the primary cause of opioid overdose deaths today. Opioids include prescription painkillers like hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, and codeine as well as illicit opioids like heroin and fentanyl.

  • Urine test – Opioid detection times on urinalysis can vary greatly depending on the type of opioid used and the duration of use.
    • Morphine – 3 days after the last dose
    • Codeine – 3 days after the last dose
    • Heroin – 3 days after the last dose
    • Hydrocodone – 4 days after the last dose
    • Oxycodone – 4 days after the last dose
    • Methadone – up to 12 days after the last dose
    • Fentanyl – 3 days after the last dose
  • Saliva test
    • Morphine – Up to 3 days
    • Codeine – Up to 4 days
    • Heroin – Up to an hour
    • Hydrocodone – Around 36 hours
    • Oxycodone – Up to 4 days
    • Methadone – Up to 10 days
    • Fentanyl – not typically detected on saliva tests
  • Blood test
    • Morphine – 3 days
    • Codeine – 24 hours
    • Heroin – 6-8 hours
    • Hydrocodone – 24 hours
    • Oxycodone – 24 hours
    • Methadone – 24-36 hours
    • Fentanyl – 3 days
  • Hair test – Up to 90 days after the last use

It is estimated that 2.5 million people ages 18 and older in the U.S. have an opioid use disorder.

How Long Does Meth Stay in Your System?

Meth is an illicit stimulant drug that increases heart rate and energy. People who abuse meth often experience long-term side effects, such as weight loss, dental problems, hallucinations, cardiovascular disease, liver and kidney damage, and more. Meth will also cause intense withdrawal symptoms if you stop using it cold turkey.

Meth is long-acting and can stay in your body for up to a week.

  • Urine test – Up to a week
  • Saliva test – 3-4 days
  • Blood test – 2-3 days
  • Hair test – Up to 90 days

Methamphetamine is water-soluble, which means it clears from the bloodstream relatively quickly. However, it can still be detected in urine for a longer period in some cases.

How Long Do Benzodiazepines Stay in Your System?

Benzodiazepines are sedative drugs that are used to treat anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia. Benzodiazepine misuse is fairly common, with drugs like Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium being the most widely used. 

  • Urine test – Short-acting benzos like Ativan and Xanax stay in the urine for about 4-6 days. Long-acting benzos, such as Restoril, Valium, and Librium can stay in urine for up to 6 weeks.
  • Saliva test – Short-acting benzos stay in saliva for 8 hours to 2 days, while long-acting ones can stay in saliva or up to 10 days.
  • Blood test – Short-acting benzos can be detected in blood for up to 24 hours while long-acting ones have a detection window of up to 48 hours.
  • Hair test – Up to 90 days after the last dose

How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System?

Ahead of marijuana, alcohol is the most commonly used drug in the United States. It is legal to buy if you are over 21 and widely acceptable in American culture. 79% of Americans have drunk alcohol at some point in their lives and 31% report regular alcohol consumption.

  • Urine – 12-48 hours (up to 80 hours for certain tests)
  • Blood – Up to 12 hours
  • Saliva – Up to 24 hours
  • Hair – Up to 90 days

Alcohol leaves the body quickly, but some advanced urine tests can detect alcohol use for up to 80 hours after drinking.

Other Drugs

  • Adderall Adderall can stay in urine for up to 72 hours and blood and saliva for up to 48
  • Barbiturates – Up to 6 weeks in urine and 72 hours in blood and saliva
  • Ecstasy (Molly/MDMA) – Up to 4 days in urine and 2 days in blood and saliva
  • PCP (Angel Dust) – Up to 4 weeks in urine, 24 hours in blood, and 10 days in saliva
  • Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms) – Up to 20 hours in urine and blood

What Drug Test Goes Back the Farthest?

Hair follicle testing can detect use for the longest period–up to 90 days. This is because illicit and prescription drugs enter the bloodstream and get embedded in hair follicles as the hair grows. Once drugs are in the hair shaft, they remain there as a record of past use. Even if someone has stopped using a drug, a test result can still reveal past use months later.

While hair tests go back the farthest, they are not as commonly used as urine tests, especially in workplaces. Urine drug tests are the most frequently used because they are affordable, easy to administer, and provide a detection window that is long enough to catch recent use without being overly invasive.

Other drug tests have shorter detection windows:

  • Blood tests – Detect drugs for only a few hours to a couple of days. These are used in medical or legal settings when immediate drug use needs to be confirmed.
  • Saliva tests – Detect recent drug use within the past 24-48 hours. These are becoming more popular for workplace testing because they are non-invasive and easy to administer.
  • Urine tests – Detect drugs for a few days to a few weeks, depending on the substance. This is the most common type of drug test used by employers and legal agencies.

Safe Supervised Detox is Key

Whether you need to detox for a drug test or are struggling with substance abuse and worried about withdrawal, the best course of action is to obtain help from a safe, supervised detox program.

Stopping drug use suddenly—especially with substances like alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids—can be dangerous and lead to severe withdrawal symptoms.

Medical detox programs provide support to help people safely clear drugs from their system while managing withdrawal symptoms. These programs often include:

  • Medical monitoring – Doctors and nurses oversee the detox process to prevent dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
  • Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) – Certain medications can ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings.
  • Emotional support – Counseling and therapy help people through the detox process and prepare them for long-term recovery.

Find Treatment Now With Moving Mountains Recovery

At Moving Mountains Recovery, we use a custom-tailored approach across multiple levels of care, giving each client the individual care they need to achieve recovery. To learn more about our treatment programs or get started with medical detox, please reach out to us today!

  1. National Institute of Health (NIH): Objective Testing – Urine and Other Drug Tests
  2. National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics: Marijuana Addiction: Rates & Usage Statistics
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Urine Testing for Detection of Marijuana: An Advisory
  4. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Opioids
  5. NIH: Opioid Metabolism
  6. NIH: Interpretation of Urine Analysis for Cocaine Metabolites
  7. NIDA: Cocaine
  8. NIH: Drug Testing
  9. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Drug Metabolites and Hair Testing

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How Far Back Do Drug Tests Go?

Drug testing is used in workplaces, legal settings, and addiction treatment programs to determine if someone has used drugs recently or in the past. But how far back can a drug test detect substances? The answer depends on several factors, including the type of test used, the drug itself, and a person’s metabolism.

Some drugs exit the body in just a few hours, while others can remain detectable for weeks or even months. If you're facing a drug test, it's important to understand how long different substances stay in your system and what factors influence detection times.

Factors Influencing How Long Drugs Remain in the Body

No two people metabolize drugs the same way, which is why detection times can vary widely. Several key factors determine how long drugs stay in the body and show up on a test:

  • Type of drug - Different substances break down at different rates. For example, alcohol is metabolized quickly and usually exits the body within a day, while marijuana can linger in fat cells and show up in urine samples for weeks, especially in heavy users.
  • Frequency of use - One-time or occasional use of a drug typically clears from the system faster than regular or chronic use. Someone who smokes marijuana once may test clean in a few days, while a daily user might still test positive after a month or longer.
  • Metabolism and body composition - A person’s metabolism plays a major role in how quickly drugs are processed and eliminated. Factors like age, weight, hydration, liver function, and overall health can speed up or slow down drug clearance rates.
  • Type of test used - The kind of drug test being administered makes a big difference in how far back it can detect drug use. Blood, saliva, and urine drug tests are used to detect recent drug use, while hair follicle tests can show drug use from months ago.
  • Hydration and diet - Drinking plenty of water can sometimes help clear certain substances faster, but it won’t speed up metabolism significantly. In contrast, dehydration can slow the elimination process and make drug traces more concentrated in urine.

Average Drug Test Detection Times by Substance and Drug Test Type

There are four different types of drug tests: urine, blood, saliva, and hair. Urine tests are the most common; they are cheap, non-invasive, and accurate. They are often used for pre-employment screenings and court-related purposes. Saliva tests are also common and easy to use because they only require a simple cheek swab or saliva sample.

Blood tests are more rare because they require a phlebotomist or healthcare professional to draw blood. They’re typically only used in medical settings and have the shortest detection window.

Hair tests are becoming more common because they can detect substances in the body for up to 90 days. However, these tests aren’t always accurate and can be ineffective on some hair types.

Different drugs stay in the body for different lengths of time. Below is an overview of how long drugs stay in your system based on the different commonly abused drugs and testing methods.

How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Your System?

Marijuana is the most commonly used psychoactive substance in the United States. About 78 million Americans have tried marijuana and 35 million are monthly users. As a result, it is one of the drugs most commonly detected on drug tests.

Drug tests can detect THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the primary active chemical in marijuana, for several weeks because THC is stored in fat cells. Heavy users may notice that marijuana stays in their system for up to a month.

  • Urine test - Up to 30 days
  • Saliva test - 48-72 hours
  • Blood test - 4-6 hours
  • Hair test - Up to 90 days

Synthetic marijuana, such as k2 or spice, doesn’t stay in your system as long as marijuana. In most instances, these substances leave the body within 48-72 hours.

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?

Cocaine is an illegal stimulant drug that comes in powder form and is usually snorted. Cocaine abuse can cause heart attacks, strokes, respiratory failure, overdose, seizures, and death. Additionally, a lot of the cocaine found on the streets today contains fentanyl, an opioid 100 times stronger than heroin and morphine.

  • Urine test - 3 days after the last dose
  • Saliva test - 24-28 hours
  • Blood test - 12-24 hours
  • Hair test - Up to three months (90 days)

Cocaine metabolizes quickly, but its breakdown products can still be found in urine for several days after use. Chronic use can extend detection times. Research shows about 1.5 million people are regular cocaine users.

How Long Do Opioids Stay in Your System?

Opioids are highly addictive and are the primary cause of opioid overdose deaths today. Opioids include prescription painkillers like hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, and codeine as well as illicit opioids like heroin and fentanyl.

  • Urine test - Opioid detection times on urinalysis can vary greatly depending on the type of opioid used and the duration of use.
    • Morphine - 3 days after the last dose
    • Codeine - 3 days after the last dose
    • Heroin - 3 days after the last dose
    • Hydrocodone - 4 days after the last dose
    • Oxycodone - 4 days after the last dose
    • Methadone - up to 12 days after the last dose
    • Fentanyl - 3 days after the last dose
  • Saliva test -
    • Morphine - Up to 3 days
    • Codeine - Up to 4 days
    • Heroin - Up to an hour
    • Hydrocodone - Around 36 hours
    • Oxycodone - Up to 4 days
    • Methadone - Up to 10 days
    • Fentanyl - not typically detected on saliva tests
  • Blood test -
    • Morphine - 3 days
    • Codeine - 24 hours
    • Heroin - 6-8 hours
    • Hydrocodone - 24 hours
    • Oxycodone - 24 hours
    • Methadone - 24-36 hours
    • Fentanyl - 3 days
  • Hair test - Up to 90 days after the last use

It is estimated that 2.5 million people ages 18 and older in the U.S. have an opioid use disorder.

How Long Does Meth Stay in Your System?

Meth is an illicit stimulant drug that increases heart rate and energy. People who abuse meth often experience long-term side effects, such as weight loss, dental problems, hallucinations, cardiovascular disease, liver and kidney damage, and more. Meth will also cause intense withdrawal symptoms if you stop using it cold turkey.

Meth is long-acting and can stay in your body for up to a week.

  • Urine test - Up to a week
  • Saliva test - 3-4 days
  • Blood test - 2-3 days
  • Hair test - Up to 90 days

Methamphetamine is water-soluble, which means it clears from the bloodstream relatively quickly. However, it can still be detected in urine for a longer period in some cases.

How Long Do Benzodiazepines Stay in Your System?

Benzodiazepines are sedative drugs that are used to treat anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia. Benzodiazepine misuse is fairly common, with drugs like Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium being the most widely used. 

  • Urine test - Short-acting benzos like Ativan and Xanax stay in the urine for about 4-6 days. Long-acting benzos, such as Restoril, Valium, and Librium can stay in urine for up to 6 weeks.
  • Saliva test - Short-acting benzos stay in saliva for 8 hours to 2 days, while long-acting ones can stay in saliva or up to 10 days.
  • Blood test - Short-acting benzos can be detected in blood for up to 24 hours while long-acting ones have a detection window of up to 48 hours.
  • Hair test - Up to 90 days after the last dose

How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System?

Ahead of marijuana, alcohol is the most commonly used drug in the United States. It is legal to buy if you are over 21 and widely acceptable in American culture. 79% of Americans have drunk alcohol at some point in their lives and 31% report regular alcohol consumption.

  • Urine - 12-48 hours (up to 80 hours for certain tests)
  • Blood - Up to 12 hours
  • Saliva - Up to 24 hours
  • Hair - Up to 90 days

Alcohol leaves the body quickly, but some advanced urine tests can detect alcohol use for up to 80 hours after drinking.

Other Drugs

  • Adderall - Adderall can stay in urine for up to 72 hours and blood and saliva for up to 48
  • Barbiturates - Up to 6 weeks in urine and 72 hours in blood and saliva
  • Ecstasy (Molly/MDMA) - Up to 4 days in urine and 2 days in blood and saliva
  • PCP (Angel Dust) - Up to 4 weeks in urine, 24 hours in blood, and 10 days in saliva
  • Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms) - Up to 20 hours in urine and blood

What Drug Test Goes Back the Farthest?

Hair follicle testing can detect use for the longest period–up to 90 days. This is because illicit and prescription drugs enter the bloodstream and get embedded in hair follicles as the hair grows. Once drugs are in the hair shaft, they remain there as a record of past use. Even if someone has stopped using a drug, a test result can still reveal past use months later.

While hair tests go back the farthest, they are not as commonly used as urine tests, especially in workplaces. Urine drug tests are the most frequently used because they are affordable, easy to administer, and provide a detection window that is long enough to catch recent use without being overly invasive.

Other drug tests have shorter detection windows:

  • Blood tests - Detect drugs for only a few hours to a couple of days. These are used in medical or legal settings when immediate drug use needs to be confirmed.
  • Saliva tests - Detect recent drug use within the past 24-48 hours. These are becoming more popular for workplace testing because they are non-invasive and easy to administer.
  • Urine tests - Detect drugs for a few days to a few weeks, depending on the substance. This is the most common type of drug test used by employers and legal agencies.

Safe Supervised Detox is Key

Whether you need to detox for a drug test or are struggling with substance abuse and worried about withdrawal, the best course of action is to obtain help from a safe, supervised detox program.

Stopping drug use suddenly—especially with substances like alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids—can be dangerous and lead to severe withdrawal symptoms.

Medical detox programs provide support to help people safely clear drugs from their system while managing withdrawal symptoms. These programs often include:

  • Medical monitoring - Doctors and nurses oversee the detox process to prevent dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
  • Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) - Certain medications can ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings.
  • Emotional support - Counseling and therapy help people through the detox process and prepare them for long-term recovery.

Find Treatment Now With Moving Mountains Recovery

At Moving Mountains Recovery, we use a custom-tailored approach across multiple levels of care, giving each client the individual care they need to achieve recovery. To learn more about our treatment programs or get started with medical detox, please reach out to us today!

  1. National Institute of Health (NIH): Objective Testing - Urine and Other Drug Tests
  2. National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics: Marijuana Addiction: Rates & Usage Statistics
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Urine Testing for Detection of Marijuana: An Advisory
  4. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Opioids
  5. NIH: Opioid Metabolism
  6. NIH: Interpretation of Urine Analysis for Cocaine Metabolites
  7. NIDA: Cocaine
  8. NIH: Drug Testing
  9. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Drug Metabolites and Hair Testing

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