Meth causes an intense high that can last for up to 12 hours. But knowing how long the drug’s effects will last is not the same as knowing how long meth stays in your system.
How Long Does Meth Stay in Your System?
The elimination half-life of methamphetamine (meth) can range from six to 15 hours. A half-life is the amount of time it takes for half of a substance to be eliminated from your system. It typically takes four to five half-lives for a substance to fall below a clinically significant level.
For meth, this means that it can take 24-75 hours – or one to three days – for the drug to be fully eliminated from your system. Factors that can affect the amount of time it takes for your body to rid itself of meth include:
- Your age, weight, and metabolism
- How much meth you’ve recently used
- How long you’ve been using meth, and how frequently you use it
- How you ingested the meth (such as by smoking, snorting, or injecting it)
If the question, “How long does meth stay in your system?” is related to an upcoming drug test, the answer can also depend on what type of sample the test will be analyzing.
It’s important to note that drug tests may detect metabolites, which are byproducts that are created as your body breaks down meth and prepares it for elimination. Metabolites – which are proof that you used meth – can remain in your body long after the drug itself is no longer present.
Given the many factors that can affect how long meth stays in your system, please note that the times provided below are general estimates only.
How Long Does Meth Stay in Your Blood?
A blood test for meth will usually return a positive finding if you’ve used the drug within the previous 24-72 hours (one to three days).
How Long Does Meth Stay in Your Urine?
Meth may be detectable in your urine for 72-120 hours, or three to five days, after the last time you used the drug.
How Long Does Meth Stay in Your Saliva?
If you are required to provide a saliva sample, you may test positive for meth for 24-96 hours, or one to four days after your most recent use.
How Long Does Meth Stay in Your Hair?
Hair follicles retain evidence of substance use for considerably longer than other areas of the body do. An analysis of your hair could return a positive result for 90-120 days, or three to four months after you used the drug for the last time.
Can Meth Get Into Breast Milk?
In addition to the samples already mentioned, meth can also get into breast milk. Knowing how long breast milk can retain meth isn’t a concern for drug tests, but it is extremely important if you are breastfeeding a newborn.
Studies have found that meth usually remains detectable in breast milk for about 72 hours (three days), though for some people it can take an extra day or two for the drug to become undetectable in their milk.
If you have used meth and intend to breastfeed, experts recommend testing your urine daily. Once you have a clean urine test, you should wait one more full day before breastfeeding.
How Can You Avoid Testing Positive for Meth?
The only foolproof way to avoid testing positive for meth is to not use meth.
Once this drug is in your system, you can’t speed up the process of eliminating it. And contrary to what you may have read or heard elsewhere, there’s nothing you can eat or drink that will prevent a drug screen from detecting meth in your system.
Thankfully, when you stop using meth, your risk of testing positive will soon be zero. Unfortunately, once you’ve become addicted to meth, it can be extremely difficult to stop.
What Happens if You Can’t Stop Using Meth?
It is difficult to overstate the devastation that untreated meth addiction can cause. For example, the physical effects of compulsive meth use can include:
- Cardiomyopathy (weakening of the heart muscle)
- Heart failure
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Increased risk of stroke
- Malnutrition
- Skin infections
- Severe dental decay
- Kidney failure
- Liver failure
- Seizure
From a psychological perspective, being unable to stop using meth can lead to:
- Anxiety and paranoia
- Memory deficits
- Cognitive impairments
- Hallucinations
- Psychosis
- Impulsivity and aggressiveness
- Onset or worsening of anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses
- Anhedonia (difficulty experiencing happiness)
- Suicidal ideation
Meth’s effects on overall quality of life can include:
- Lost relationships
- Job loss
- Long-term unemployment
- Financial problems
- Arrest and incarceration
- Social withdrawal and isolation
- Homelessness
The good news is that your risk of these and other negative outcomes can decrease significantly when you get effective professional treatment.
In treatment, you can get the medical and therapeutic support you need to end your meth use and establish a solid foothold in early recovery.
When you are trapped in the darkness of active meth addiction, it can feel like there’s no way out. But when you make the courageous decision to ask for help, you can discover your path toward the healthier life you deserve.
Get Help for Meth Addiction Near San Francisco
Live Oaks Wellness offers medical detox and comprehensive residential programming for adults who have become addicted to meth and other drugs. We also offer dual diagnosis services for patients whose struggles with chemical dependence are accompanied by anxiety, depression, and other co-occurring mental health concerns.
When you choose our rehab center near San Francisco, CA, you can expect to receive comprehensive, personalized care from a team of highly skilled professionals. With our help and a concerted effort on your part, you can free yourself from compulsive meth use and begin to live a more hopeful and satisfying life in recovery.
To learn more or to schedule a free consultation, please visit our Contact page or call us today.
