What is meth?
Methamphetamine, commonly known as crystal meth or ice, is a powerful stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It was first synthesized in Japan in 1919 from the synthetic drug amphetamine and widely used during World War II to keep their troops alert.
Whether taken for recreational purposes or prescribed in its medical form (Desoxyn), understanding how long meth remains in your system is crucial for reasons ranging from drug tests to health concerns. In this article, we will delve into the lifespan of meth in the body and the factors that influence its detection time.
How does the body process meth?
Crystal meth can be ingested orally, injected into the bloodstream, smoked, or snorted. Most users prefer smoking meth in a glass pipe or injecting it for a quick, intense, but short-lived rush.
After all, injecting the drug into the bloodstream is the quickest way to get a euphoric flash since blood is constantly pumped into the brain. Snorting through the nose takes 3-5 minutes to hit, while oral ingestion takes 15-20 minutes. These latter methods have a longer-lasting high than smoking or injecting the drug.
Pharmacokinetics of Methamphetamine
When meth is consumed, it is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. From here, the drug travels to the brain, exerting its primary psychoactive effects. However, the body doesn’t retain methamphetamine indefinitely. Like other substances, it gets metabolized and eventually excreted.
How is meth metabolized in the body?
This synthetic, highly addictive drug is metabolized through several processes involving enzymes. The main enzyme responsible for breaking down crystal meth in the liver is cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6).
The rate at which meth metabolism occurs differs from one individual to another, depending on a number of factors such as age, sex, and genetics. Once meth is metabolized, it is excreted from the body through urine from the kidneys, sweat, and feces.
How does meth stay in your system?
Essentially, the effects of meth wear off even before the drug is completely metabolized, leading its users to a binge-crash cycle. This is why chronic users binge the drug to prolong its high but experience a withdrawal as soon as the binge episode ends. This is the crash.
Consider the various factors listed below that affect how long meth stays in your system.
Factors influencing how long meth stays in your system
- Dosage and frequency of the user – higher doses of the drug lead to relatively longer detection times as the body takes longer to break it down. Chronic users also prolong meth detection time as methamphetamine metabolites build up in their bodies.
- Individual metabolic rate.
- General health status– liver and kidney function significantly influence drug metabolism. Combining meth with other drugs, such as antidepressants and antipsychotics, also slows down meth breakdown by inhibiting the CYP2D6 enzyme.
- Age – general body metabolism slows down with age, extending the detection window.
- Body mass – crystal meth is a lipophilic substance, which means that it dissolves in fat. It can, therefore, be stored in the body and released slowly over time, prolonging its detection time among individuals with higher body mass index.
Methamphetamine detection window in saliva, blood, urine, and hair
Various tests are used to detect meth metabolites in the body since the detection window varies in the saliva, blood, urine, and hair. Below is a detailed analysis of each test’s detection window.
How long meth stays in saliva
An oral fluid test is used to detect meth metabolites in saliva. Due to its non-invasive nature, this test is increasingly popular, offers instant results, and is easily administered.
The oral fluid test involves collecting a saliva sample from the suspected meth user using a swab or absorbent pad and analyzing for traces of crystal meth.
Research asserts that meth has a relatively quick detection window of 5-10 minutes after use. However, it may remain detectable for up to 72 hours in saliva for heavy users.
How long does meth stay in urine?
A urine test can turn positive for meth metabolites about 2-5 hours after use. The detection window can, however, be as long as one week after the last dose for chronic users. Typically, urinalysis for methamphetamine can reveal amphetamine metabolites for 3-5 days since last use for regular users.
The urine test is one of the most common meth screening methods employed during medical screening, employment-mandated screening, and legal and forensic investigations. Its results are reliable, primarily when conducted in accredited labs.
Nonetheless, like any other test, it is susceptible to false positives and false negatives through alterations and some over-the-counter medication.
How long does meth stay in the blood?
Crystal meth can be detected in the blood within 1-2 hours of ingestion. The detection window lasts between 24-72 hours, depending on the frequency of use and dosage ingested, among other factors.
The half-life of the metabolites is 10-12 hours, meaning the drug concentration will have reduced by half within this timeframe.
A healthcare professional administers blood testing for meth in a clinical setting, where the blood sample taken is handled correctly to prevent contamination or misidentification. The sample is then processed for meth metabolites.
This blood test is a precise and accurate method that is difficult to tamper with compared to other drug tests. Due to its invasive nature, it should be performed under informed consent unless under legal circumstances. Confidentiality laws also protect its results, with disclosure only permitted under certain conditions.
How long meth stays in hair follicles
When meth is ingested, it enters the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body, including the scalp, where hair follicles develop. As the hair grows out, the drug is encased in the hair shaft at a rate of half an inch per month.
A hair test requires 1.5 inches of hair follicle from the scalp, equivalent to three months of growth. This is the detection window of meth compounds in a hair follicle.
Like blood testing, hair testing is less susceptible to adulteration but a less invasive procedure. Although it has the longest detection window among all other tests, it takes 5-7 days after ingestion for the hair follicle containing meth molecules to grow above the scalp to a length appropriate for the sample.
Additionally, hair testing presents several limitations, such as:
- Longer time-lapse for detection.
- High risk of external contamination. For this reason, the hair sample must be washed and screened for any contaminants.
- Individual hair growth rates may influence the detection timeframe.
- Bias against hair types. The hair color and structure can affect the absorption rate of drug molecules, leading to biased results.
Side effects of methamphetamine
Short-term effects of meth
Physical short-term effects of meth include:
- Dilated pupils.
- Short-lived bursts of energy.
- Twitching.
- Elevated blood pressure and heart rate.
- Dry mouth.
- Hyperthermia
- Low appetite, which can lead to malnutrition and dehydration.
Some behavioral and psychological effects include:
- Impulsivity.
- Increased libido.
- Euphoria.
- Increased aggression.
- Increased alertness and focus.
- Insomnia, especially during a binge.
- Anxiety, irritability, and increased cravings when the ‘high’ wears off.
Long-term effects of meth
Extended use of meth may lead to severe health issues that can be irreversible. Some side effects that chronic meth users may experience include:
- Dental issues such as tooth decay, gum disease, or cracked teeth caused by lack of proper hygiene, dry mouth, and teeth grinding.
- Weight loss due to malnutrition. Chronic users take the drug over several days, neglecting food, water, and sleep. This is called a ‘run’.
- Cardiovascular problems, such as hypertension, stroke, and heart disease.
- Respiratory issues.
- Skin sores and acne due to picking their skin.
- Sexual dysfunction initializes with increased libido, but with prolonged use, sexual functioning decreases.
- Reproductive problems: infertility in men and menstrual irregularities in women.
- Increased risk of infectious diseases for users who inject the drug.
Long-term behavioral and psychological effects are:
- Increased tolerance, which develops into addiction.
- Isolation and withdrawal from social connections.
- Visual and auditory hallucinations.
- Increased legal problems, which may lead to incarceration.
- Anxiety, depression, and mood swings.
- Cognitive impairments, such as memory loss.
- Reduced productivity and neglecting responsibilities.
- Financial problems.
Risk factors for meth use
Statistics reveal that meth use is a public health issue in many countries. This is attributable to certain risk factors that predispose individuals to develop a methamphetamine addiction.
Some of them include:
Socio-cultural factors
- Some cultural norms and attitudes are more permissive to drug use, which lowers the perceived risks of the drug. The use of other drugs may also encounter social disapproval or stigma in a community, raising the likelihood of meth use.
Biological factors
- Brain chemistry – individuals who are susceptible to mental health issues may find the effects of meth pleasurable, increasing their risk of tolerance and ultimate addiction.
- Genetics – addiction vulnerability genes predispose individuals to substance use disorders. Some genetic variations also affect the brain’s reward pathways. Since meth releases high levels of dopamine, individuals carrying these genes become more prone to its use.
Psychological factors
- Mental illness – users with underlying mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and PTSD, tend to self-medicate using meth.
- Stress – high levels of stress may make one turn to meth as a coping mechanism.
- Low self-esteem – some people use meth to cover up for their feelings of inadequacy.
- Peer pressure.
- Adolescence.
Seeking help from meth use
The physical traces of meth might leave the body within weeks, but its effects can be long-lasting. It is, therefore, imperative to always seek help and support if you or your loved ones are struggling with meth use.
Due to its potency, breaking from meth use can be difficult and may result in adverse withdrawal, such as hallucinations, intense cravings, fatigue, and loss of appetite, among others.
Professional help is recommended to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and get you or your loved one on their recovery journey.
Treatment for meth use disorder would mainly involve behavioral therapies designed to identify individual risk factors and coping mechanisms, medications to reduce withdrawal, and 12-step support programs that expose the user to peers struggling with the same problem and how to cope.
No matter how far gone your meth addiction is, there is always hope for recovery, and with proper support from trained personnel, family, and friends, it is possible to recover from meth addiction.
