In 2021, drug overdoses accounted for over 100,000 deaths in the US. That number increased by 28.5% from 2020. Opioids are largely responsible for these staggering statistics.
Any opioid use can be considered dangerous or life-threatening. That said, it’s crucial to understand how opioids work and how long they stay in the system.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are a class of either naturally occurring or synthetic drugs associated with pain relief. They work by suppressing pain signals in the body. Some opioids, like hydrocodone or oxycodone, come in the form of prescription medicine. Other opioids, like heroin, are illicit and can only be bought on the street.
Some people abuse opioids by snorting or intravenously injecting them for their pleasurable, euphoric sensations. They may also mix them with other drugs to enhance certain effects.
In general, opioids are powerfully addictive. Many people develop a quick tolerance to their effects, making them want to take more over time. Furthermore, the emergence of unpleasant withdrawal symptoms often reinforces the habit.
How Long Does It Take to Feel the Effect of Opioids?
This depends on the type of opioid and how the method of administration. For example, someone who intravenously injects heroin can feel the effect almost instantaneously- after just a few seconds. However, someone who takes a prescribed, extended-release form of oxycodone may not feel the effects for 10-15 minutes.
Peak blood levels vary, but they tend to occur about 10-30 minutes after consumption. This range, however, varies based on the drug and other drugs that might be present in the bloodstream.
How Long Do Opioids Stay In Your System?
The exact length of time that opioids remain in the system varies. This timeline depends on several factors, including one’s age, general health, medical history, type of opioids used, and frequency of use.
The typical half-life for opioids ranges from 1-9 hours. For example, the half-life of oxycodone is about 3.2 hours. On average, it can take about 18-24 hours for the body to clear itself after the last opioid use.
Traces of the drug, however, can persist well after 24 hours. Keep in mind that it takes numerous half-lives for the body to fully clear itself of a drug.
Dosage: The higher the dose of opioids, the longer it will take for the body to thoroughly metabolize the drug. If someone is abusing opioids, the drugs typically stay in the system much longer.
Age: Younger people typically metabolize substances faster than older adults.
Frequency of use: If someone abuses opioids every day for several months or years, the body develops a high sense of tolerance. It will take longer for the drug to leave the body (compared to someone who might only take opioids for a few days).
Sex: Some research suggests that women take longer to metabolize opioids than men, even when taking weight and BMI into consideration.
Physical health: Heart, kidney, liver, and stomach issues can all impact the metabolic process. Unfortunately, many people who abuse opioids are not aware they have certain conditions. Their continued drug use may exacerbate their health problems.
How Long Do Opiates Stay In Urine, Blood, Saliva, or Hair?
Different tests will detect different levels of opioids. You may need to take a drug test for medical, legal, or employment-related reasons. Depending on the circumstances, failing these tests can undoubtedly result in serious consequences.
Urine tests: Urine tests can typically detect opioids for up to 3-4 days.
Blood tests: Blood tests can typically detect opioids for up to about 1-2 days.
Saliva tests: Saliva tests can typically detect opioids for about 1-14days.
Hair tests: Hair tests can typically detect opioids for about 90 days.
Final Thoughts
Any opioid use can be extremely dangerous. Illicit opioids are often laced with toxic ingredients or even more potent opioids like fentanyl, which can aggravate how the body metabolizes them. Problems with this process may lead to an overdose or death.
If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid use, it’s important to get help. You don’t have to go through this journey alone. Contact us at (866) 578-7471 to get the support you need.
