How Long Does Meth Last in Your System?

Meth or methamphetamine is a stimulant that energizes both body and mind. It gives people a high rush of good feelings. The sensation lasts a short while but the drug’s components last much longer in the body. While every individual has a different physiological makeup, meth is typically detectable for two to three days after its use or even longer for habitual users.  

Many factors affect how long methamphetamine stays in your system, including the consumption mode. When swallowed, meth reaches peak concentration in two to four hours while snorting, injecting, inserting, or smoking drives the effects faster. However, this does not mean the meth will leave your system faster.

So, how long does meth last? Read on to find out.

How long does meth last in the body?

In comparison to other stimulant drugs like cocaine, meth metabolites last in the body for a significantly longer period. The difference in excretion rate is because the liver, which is the organ responsible for metabolizing drugs, cannot entirely metabolize all the artificial chemicals in meth. 

A huge percentage of meth remains unchanged in your body. Metabolism can only remove half of the meth content from your body in twelve hours. In comparison, it would take an hour to clear a similar amount of cocaine from the body.

How long is meth detectable in urine?

Your body eliminates metabolites through urine, and a urine test will show the highest concentration of methamphetamine compared to other testing methods. The liver breaks down meth then the kidneys excrete it through urine. The body will eliminate nearly half of the meth taken within 12 hours of consumption. 

Traces of meth will remain in your urine for about two to three days after consumption. For heavy users, meth can be detected in urine for about a week since the last use. However, the elimination time frame is subject to differences due to several factors on body compositions and functions.

So, how long does meth last in urine? The exact time meth will be detectable in your urine depends on many factors, like the size of the dose, your metabolic rate, frequency of use, body mass, drug tolerance, overall general health, and your age. The frequency and quantity used are the primary factors determining how long your system will take to metabolize the methamphetamine.

Younger people generally have a higher metabolic rate, so they metabolize meth faster than older individuals. People in good health will also excrete meth more quickly than unhealthy individuals.

How long is meth detectable in other tests?

While urine is the primary meth test, how long does meth last and show in other tests?

Saliva Test

Saliva tests often have shorter windows of detection of meth due to the high chances of contamination. It’s also why most saliva drug tests are carried out at the roadside to check if the person is under the influence at that very minute.

Saliva tests can detect moderate concentrations of meth within the first  24 hours after use. Meth, however, remains in your saliva and can still be noticed for up to three days after your last ingestion.

Blood Test

A blood test can detect meth within two hours after ingestion. You must have over 20 ng/mL of methamphetamine in your blood to yield a positive meth result. The traces can be detected in your blood for up to three days since your last dose. The sample is collected from your vein in the arm in a nearly painless process.

Hair Follicle Test

Hair drug tests, while they may be the least common, have the longest detection windows for any drug. Hair tests tell more than a positive result. They can show how long a meth user has used and whether and when they quit. Such results are based on the length of the point where the hair shows meth exited the system.

Never Fail A Drug Test – Get Meth Addiction Treatment

Knowing how long meth stays in your system and how different tests work can help you predict an incoming drug test. Additionally, awareness of what meth does to the body and how your system processes it allows you to gain awareness and understanding of its use and effects. If you think you might be addicted, many treatment options can help you get clean and never fear drug tests.