Do you have to perform a drug test for your new job? Are you curious how long certain substances can stick around in your body? Well, today our blog is all about 3 substances that most employers are looking for and just how long their toxins can stay in your body & blood stream.
THC: With THC, or marijuana, it all depends on the type of test you are receiving and how much/how often you are smoking the drug. When it comes to testing for marijuana use, the test of choice is typically a urine test. Blood and saliva tests are often not utilized, because unless they are administered within hours of smoking marijuana, it will not be detected in a blood or saliva sample. Marijuana doesn’t last in your body for very long; THC, however, does. Marijuana won’t make you fail a drug test, but the chemicals in it (aka THC) will. If you’ve smoked anywhere for 30 days to 90 days prior to your drug test, you can fail a drug test for THC use.
Cocaine: Since cocaine is highly addictive, over time some users can develop a cocaine tolerance which can make cocaine not show up on a drug test even if it’s been used for an extended period of time. When it comes to blood testing, cocaine can be detected in the blood for around 48 hours after use. Just like with other drugs, cocaine can be found in hair strands for up to 90 days.
Methamphetamines: Methamphetamines are extremely dangerous drugs and our nation is currently in the middle of a huge opioid epidemic. So how long can meth stay visible in your system when undergoing a drug test?
- Blood tests can detect meth after use and for up to 72 hours and as little as 24 hours.
- Urine tests can detect meth 4-6 hours after use and for up to 3-6 days. Urine tests are the most common.
- Saliva tests can detect meth within 5-10 minutes after use and for up to 72 hours.
- And just like with other drugs, hair tests can detect meth for up to 90 days.