How Long Does Meth Stay in Your System?

Meth is a central nervous system stimulant that can lead to addiction rather quickly. Sometimes, meth is prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) under the brand name Desoxyn. That said, most people who abuse meth are buying it off of the street, receiving a substance with dangerous additives and unknown chemicals.

If you or a loved one abuse meth, you might be wondering how long it stays in your system. The half-life of meth is about 10 hours.[1] Since it takes four to five half-lives for a drug to leave your system, meth can remain in your body for two to three days.

While meth leaves your system within three days, drug tests can detect its metabolites for a longer period. For example, drug tests can detect meth in urine for up to 72 hours after your last dose. It is important to note that there is no way to flush meth out of your system faster, meaning the only way to pass a drug test is to remain sober.

In this article, you will learn:

• How long the effects of meth last
• What is the half-life of meth
• How long drug tests can detect meth in your system

How Long Do the Effects of Meth Last?

How long the effects of meth last can depend on several variables. For example, how much meth you take, how you consume it, and your body size can all play a role. That said, meth usually lasts anywhere between four to 12 hours.

The common side effects of meth include:[2]

• A rush of euphoria
• Increased energy and focus
• Heightened alertness and wakefulness
• Confusion, agitation, or paranoia
• Aggressive or violent behavior
• Decreased need for food and sleep
• Psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions

While you might be abusing meth to experience euphoria and increased energy, it can have negative effects on your mental health. Abusing meth can lead to substance-induced psychosis, which involves symptoms like a detachment from reality, delusions, and hallucinations.[3] Unfortunately, meth-induced psychosis often requires hospitalization.

What is the Half-Life of Meth?

To understand how long meth stays in your system, you need to know what a drug’s half-life is. A half-life explains how long it takes your body to eliminate half of a substance. It can take four to five half-lives for your body to completely flush out a drug.

The half-life of meth is about 10 hours.[1] This means it can take between two to three days for your body to eliminate meth.

It is important to note that several factors play a role in how long meth stays in your system, including:

• Method of administration (smoking, snorting, swallowing, or injecting)
• How often do you consume it
• The dosage you take
• How pure the meth is
• The speed of your metabolism
• The presence of other substances
• Your body weight and biological sex

While these factors play a role in how fast your body eliminates meth, there is no way to cheat the system. “Detox drinks” and other products that claim to allow you to pass a drug test do not work. The only way to ensure a negative result is to remain abstinent from meth and other substances.

How Long is Meth Detected on a Drug Test?

While meth leaves your system within three days, it leaves behind metabolites in your urine, blood, saliva, and hair. Drug tests can look for these metabolites to determine if you have recently abused meth. They are often present longer than three days, depending on what type of drug test you are taking.

Urine

Urine tests are the most commonly used drug tests because they are minimally invasive and relatively cheap to use. You might take a urine test if you are on probation, in a drug rehab program, or trying to secure a job.

Meth stays in urine for about 72 hours after your last dose. This means you can test positive on a urine test for three days after you last used meth.

Blood

Blood tests are not used as frequently as urine screens because they are invasive. They also tend to provide a shorter window of detection. That said, medical professionals might use them to determine if a substance is contributing to your symptoms.

You can have a positive result for meth on a blood test for 36 to 48 hours after your last dose.

Saliva

Saliva tests offer a short window of detection because metabolites do not stay in your saliva for very long. As a result, law enforcement officers often use them to determine if you are driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

Saliva tests can find meth in your system for 24 hours after your last dose.

Hair

Hair tests are not used frequently for a couple of reasons. First, they are expensive to send off to the lab to be analyzed. Second, they tend to offer unreliable results because they can discriminate based on things like hair color.

Some high-security clearance jobs use hair tests because they offer long-term results. These tests can find any substance in your system for up to 90 days after you last used them.

Get Connected to a Meth Addiction Treatment Center

Meth addiction is a chronic and progressive disease that can be difficult to overcome, especially if you do not have any support. Thankfully, addiction treatment programs can offer the tools and services you need to regain control over your life. The services you receive will vary depending on your personal needs.

At Archstone Behavioral Health, we use individualized treatment plans, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based therapies. We can help you achieve long-term sobriety from meth and any other substance you struggle with.

For the past twenty years, Archstone Behavioral Health has been a catalyst in helping people overcome depression, alcoholism, addiction, and mood disorders. Living a happy, meaningful life involves being surrounded by a community that puts their sobriety and mental health first. Each of our clinicians offers a wide range of expertise to help guide patients calmly through the detoxification process using approved medically assisted detox practices.

Contact us today for more information on our meth addiction treatment program.

References:

1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Methamphetamine
2. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): What are the immediate (short-term) effects of methamphetamine misuse
3. Science Direct: Positive and negative symptoms in methamphetamine-induced psychosis compared to schizophrenia