Methamphetamine, or meth for short, is a highly addictive stimulant that impacts the central nervous system. One of the most common questions is, “How long does meth stay in your system? as knowing how long meth stays in your system may be helpful to you, whether it is for medical, legal or personal use. Meth can stay in your system for days to weeks, but this is largely determined by the way it is used, metabolism, and how often it is used.
In this article, we discuss information on how long meth stays in the body, specific methods of detection, and what affects how long meth can be your system.
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What is Meth?
Methamphetamine, also known as meth, is a human-made stimulant that effects the central nervous system. This is so addictive and harmful to health that it has been made illegal in most places. Meth can be used legally to treat some medical conditions, but only in very small doses — recreational meth use is illegal.
Meth can be swallowed, inhaled, injected, or smoked. These are warnings that have varying degrees of impact by method of use on how fast the drug enters your system and for how long.
How Long Does Meth Remain in Your System?&How to check it?
The body can detect the presence of meth for differing amounts of time depending on what method of testing is used:
Urine testing: Meth may be found in urine for up to 1–4 days following use.
In blood: Meth can typically be found in the bloodstream for one to three days.
Saliva Test: A saliva test is able to find meth for a period of approximately 1–4 days.
Presence of meth in the hair: which can stay here for around 90 days depending on how long the hair is and the rate it is growing.
Also because many different factors like body composition and metabolism, meth can be detected in the urine for varying periods of time,[23] and thus the rate of elimination is highly variable.[2]
Factors That Impact How Long Meth Stays in Your System Related Resources
How long meth stays in your system is influenced by a number of different factors including:
Dosage and Frequency of Use
Taking meth in higher doses and in a more frequent manner can allow the drug to linger longer in your system. Chronic use leads to higher deposition of meth in tissues, making it traceable for several days.
Method of Consumption
How you use meth affects what it does and how long it stays in your system. Injecting or smoking meth gives an immediate high and is absorbed into blood circulation faster than oral consumption does, but the peak effect disappears much sooner from the bloodstream.
Body Fat Percentage
Because meth is stored in fat cells, individuals with higher body fat percentages may hold onto meth longer than other people with lower body fat percentages.
Metabolism
If a person has a faster metabolism, they will expel meth more quickly and if someone has a slower metabolism, the meth might remain in their system longer.
Age and Health
Individuals with active liver and kidney functions are likely to process meth quicker than older people or individuals with other health problems.
What Happens to Meth in the Body
When meth is taken into the body, it is metabolized or broken down in the liver. It breaks down into other components, one of which is amphetamine, that can impact your system as well. Urine eliminates meth as well as its metabolites. But since meth is lipid soluble, attaching to fat cells, it can certainly stay in a person who has more body fat than average for an extended period of time.
How Long Meth Remains in Urine
One of the most common methods for detecting meth is via urine tests because they are fairly non-invasive and provide accurate information. For instance, meth is detectable by urine 1–4 days after use (the period relies on the elements mentioned above). For chronic users, meth in their urine may continue to appear for several days or a week.
Meth in Blood: How Long Is It Tested for?
Meth will be detectable in blood samples for between 1 and 3 days after use. While urine tests are great for the longer detection window, blood tests provide more accurate testing for recent use but have a shorter detection window. Due to how fast meth enters the bloodstream, blood tests are used in contexts where timing matters, such as emergency medical events.
How Long Does Meth Remain in Saliva?
Meth is detectable in the saliva for 1–4 days after use. It is less invasive and easy; therefore, it is popular in workplace drug testing. Saliva tests are most accurate for recent use, but may not pick up meth long after it has been taken (immediately or in the days following first taking).
Meth Hair Test — Meth in Hair: How Long Will Meth Stay on Your Hair?
Meth: A hair test can provide evidence of meth use for up to 90 days. That’s because, over time, drugs get metabolized and incorporated into the hair follicle. While this technique is not as frequently used, it can help identify drug abuse over a long period of time or very consistent use.
Effects of Having Meth in Your System
Meth has serious physical and psychological effects that persist long after meth is flushed from the system. Meth is a known carcinogen and with meth use, these are some of the health effects that can happen:
Psychiatric Problems: Meth use may cause paranoia, anxiety, depression, and psychosis.
Cardiovascular Problems: Meth can lead to hypertension, arrhythmias, and even cardiac arrest.
Dental Issue: This includes severe tooth decay and gum disease, commonly known as meth mouth.
The skin problems: meth user develop sores on their skin because they pick and scratch.
Long after meth has left your body, these health impacts can be felt, no more so than with extended or heavy use.
Conclusion
The length of time meth stays in your system varies based on personal factors like how often you use, metabolism rate, and route of administration. In general, meth will show up in urine for 1–4 days, blood for 1–3 days, saliva for 1–4 days and hair for up to 90 days.
Knowing how long meth is in your system will help you understand better decisions to make. That said, the deadliest impact meth can have in the body and mind goes on beyond its expulsion. If you think that you can use some help, then a trip to the doctor or joining an online support group may help.
