Maybe you or someone you know has to undergo a drug test in the near future and you’re wondering how long does heroin stay in your urine. Will you be able to get rid of the opioid quickly from your body? How will you be able to pass a drug test if you just took heroin recently?
Heroin is an opioid that is made from morphine. It is classified as a Schedule I drug, which means that it is a controlled substance that has no accepted medical use in the United States and has a high potential for abuse. When a person takes heroin, the drug enters the bloodstream swiftly so the effect is almost instant. However, the effect is much stronger compared to most prescription opioids. In terms of opioid strength, heroin is two to five times stronger than morphine. The strength will depend on the source of the drug and what the drug has been mixed with.
With the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States, many Americans have switched from prescription opioids to using heroin because the illicit drug is much cheaper. For some people, finding heroin is also much easier than acquiring prescription medications. The strength of heroin is also a factor because opioid users can get a stronger high at a much cheaper cost.
The length of time heroin can be detected in your urine and your body will depend on different factors. Read on to find out the length of time heroin can be detected in your system.
How long does heroin stay in your system, urine, blood, saliva, hair?
When you take heroin, it will stay in your system for a period of time. Just like any other drug, several factors will affect how long it will take for the drug to be eliminated from your body. These factors include a person’s metabolism, age, weight, sex, and kidney and liver function. Other factors that affect the time the drug stays in your system include the length of time you have been taking the drug, the dose you have taken, and if you took heroin in combination with other drugs or substances.
If you are about to undergo a drug test, the length of time the drug could be detected in your body will depend on the type of drug test that will be administered.
Heroin Urine Test
Urine testing is one of the most common forms of drug testing. It is a quick and easy way to see whether there is heroin or other opioids in your system. After taking heroin, this substance can be detected in your urine for a period of 2-7 days.
Urine Test: 2 to 7 Days
Heroin Saliva Test
Administering a saliva test is not as common as a urine drug test. However, there are instances when a saliva test could be ordered. If you took heroin, it will only be detected in your saliva for up to 12 hours. However, some experts recommend that the saliva test has to be administered within 5 hours after the dose for the test to be effective.
Saliva test: 5 to 12 hours
Heroin Blood Test
Blood testing is also another drug testing method that can detect the presence of drugs. However, when trying to detect heroin, there is only a short period of time wherein it will be detected. After taking heroin, a blood test can detect the substance in the blood for only 6 to 12 hours.
Blood Test: 6 to 12 hours
Heroin Hair Test
Another method to test the presence of drugs in the body is through hair testing. While heroin will not immediately show up in your hair if you just took it on the day of the hair test, it will stay in your hair follicle longer. It is possible to still detect traces of the heroin in your hair follicle for 1 to 3 months.
Hair Test: 1 to 3 months
How to get heroin out of your system fast
One common question is whether it is possible to get rid of heroin out of your system fast. People who have taken heroin and are about to go through a drug test may want to have the drug quickly eliminated from their body. Some even turn to using fake pee to cheat urine drug tests.
The only effective way to permanently get heroin out of your system is to seek professional treatment. By enrolling in a treatment program, you can start your recovery journey and be substance-free.
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, help is available.
Contact Anaheim Lighthouse today.
