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How Long Does Crystal Methamphetamine Stay In Your System?




Methamphetamine is able to prolong its stay in the body for up to 1-4 days after use as detected in a urine drug test. However, this detection period may be extended in chronic meth users. In this article, we will discuss how methamphetamine works, how long it lasts in your body, and a few other useful information about the drug.

  • Meth or Methamphetamine is a very potent stimulant that can be addictive as it affects the person’s central nervous system.
  • In the medical setting, small doses of meth are often legally prescribed for treatment.
  • However, most recreational preparations of meth are being manufactured illegally.

Meth is distributed in a variety of forms and can be used in several ways. Doctors usually prescribe the pill form of methamphetamine; however, its illicit form the powder meth is ingested, snorted or injected. The crystal meth or rock form, on the other hand, is often smoked.

Methamphetamine is classified as a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act.

It is allowed for a very limited number of cases in the medical setting. Doctors typically issue a non-refillable prescription of the drug to treat attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders, narcolepsy, and obesity.

The stimulant is also used recreationally. Shortly after meth is smoked or injected, the drug is able to produce an intense but short rush. If meth is ingested or snorted, the effects of the drug can last up to 12 hours. Meth is mostly used for its euphoric high and in the U.S., possession of meth without a doctor’s prescription is considered illegal.

The Blood concentrations of meth are usually dependent on the dose administered.

Since medical professionals can prescribe meth, the drug’s therapeutic level in blood concentration can range from .02 to .05 mg/L. On the contrary, in the recreational use of meth, therapeutic level of blood concentration is anywhere between .01 to 2.5mg/L. In individuals who abuse the drug, blood concentrations above .2mg/L have been found. Concentrations above 2.5mg/L are already considered toxic.

Meth levels can reach peak blood concentration variously depending on how it was administered. The half-life of meth varies between about 10-12 hours. When ingested, the peak concentration of the drug can occur in around 3 hours. However, when smoked or snorted, the peak concentration of meth can take anywhere between 2-3 hours.

Various drugs and their metabolites vary in the amount of detection time in the body, although meth can stay longest. Meth typically lingers in the body as it has a half-life of nearly half a day. The exact duration of methamphetamine’s ability to stay in the body is dependent on various factors such as the person’s urine pH levels, drug administration, dosage, the frequency of use, metabolism rate, and body mass. Meth can hold onto hair strands for the longest time. Meth can be detected in hair depending on the length of hair and frequency of meth use.

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