How are drugs detected in the body?

       Drugs are detected in the body by taking samples of urine, saliva, breath air, hair, blood, sweat and body fluids.  There is a ten panel drug test that is used to detect certain drugs.  Those drugs are: Cocaine, Methadone, propoxyphene, Tricyclic antidepressants, Synthetic cannabinoids, Phencyclidine, Opiates, Methaqualone, Cannabinoids, Amphetamines, Buprenorphine, and Barbiturates.

            I thought it was interesting that scape hair testing can detect drugs for a period of 30 to 90 days but body hair can detect drugs in a period of up to a year because it grows at a slower rate.  Cocaine can be detected in the urine 2 to 5 days except for heavy users it can be detected 7 to 10 days.  It can be detected up to 90 days in the hair and 2 to 10 days in the blood. Cannabis can be detected in the urine for up to 3 to 4 days and heavy users up to 10 days.  It’s detected in the hair for up to 90 days and in the blood 2 to 3 days and 2 weeks for heavy users. 

           

 

 Vernita M. R.

December 7, 2013

 

 

Source

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_test