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How long can drugs and alcohol be detected in urine?
| Drugs of Abuse | Approximate Retention Time |
|---|---|
| Amphetamines | 48 hours |
| Barbiturates | Short acting (e.g. secobarbita) 24 hours, Long acting (e.g. Phenobarbital) 2-3 weeks |
| Benzodiazepines | 72 hours if therapeutic dose ingested |
| Cannabinoids, Metabolites, Marijuana | Moderate smoker (4 times/week) – 5 days, Heavy smoker (daily) – 10 days, Retention time of chronic smokers (3-4 times/day) may be 20 days or more |
| Cocaine | 6-8 hours post ingestion |
| Cocaine Metabolites (Benzoylecgonine) | 48-96 hours |
| Codeine | 48 hours (up to 72 hours as morphine metabolite) |
| Ethyl Alcohol | 7-12 hours |
| Heroin (as morphine) | 36-72 hours |
| Hydrocodone | 24 hours |
| Hydromorphone | 48 hours |
| Methadone | Approximately 72 hours |
| Morphine | 48-72 hours |
| Opiates (Heroin, Morphine, Codeine) | 48 hours |
| Oxcodone | 24 hours |
| Phencyclidine | Approximately 8 days |
| Propoxyphene (Dar-von) | 6-48 hours |
These are general guidelines only provided by drug testing companies. Interpretation of retention time must take into account variability of urine specimens; drug metabolism and half-life; patient’s physical condition; fluid intake; and method and frequency of ingestion.