After using drugs, the substance will remain in your system for a while as the body processes and removes it. The process can take even longer if you’ve used a substance for an extended duration of time.
However, it’s common to feel some urgency to speed the process up if you need to take a drug test soon or want to get drugs out of your system quickly to begin recovering from addiction.
You might see over-the-counter drug detox kits or home remedies that claim to help you achieve a clean system for drug tests in 24 hours, but these aren’t the most effective or safest ways to detox from drugs. Many complications can happen, such as severe withdrawal symptoms that affect your well-being or could even be life-threatening if not managed correctly.
Ultimately, professional medically assisted detox programs are the best solution. We provide medical detox and rehab for addiction at Genesis House and are here to help each step of the way. Keep reading as we discuss how to clean your system for drug tests safely and treatment options that can help.
Understanding Drug Metabolism and Detection
Knowing what happens in the body from the time you take drugs to the moment they’re removed will help you understand detection windows and how long it takes to cleanse the body.
Initial Absorption Process and Effects After Taking a Substance
When you take drugs, they’ll get absorbed into the bloodstream and make their way to the brain where they cause the primary effects, such as speeding up or slowing down your central nervous system or increasing the release of several neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine that are often referred to as “feel-good” hormones.
These effects are what can make someone feel high or have pleasurable sensations after taking a large dose of a substance, along with other side effects like potential loss of coordination or slurred speech.
Depending on the drug and method of consumption, this process can happen quickly or take a few hours before you feel the drug’s full effects.
For example, swallowing a prescription opioid painkiller takes longer for the body to absorb it into the bloodstream since it has to get digested in the stomach first. On the other hand, injecting an opioid like heroin into a vein (straight into the bloodstream) would cause more sudden effects.
The Body’s Natural Detox Process
After drugs make their way through the bloodstream, they’ll usually end up at the liver to get processed for removal from the body. The liver does this by breaking drug metabolites down into water-soluble compounds that allow the body to remove the substance through the urine.
It can take the liver several hours or several days to process a drug, depending on the dose you took, how long you’ve been using the drug, and individual biological and lifestyle factors.
Some substances can even stay in the system much longer, such as the THC in marijuana. THC is highly lipid-soluble and can easily get absorbed by fat cells in the body, making it take longer to remove all the metabolites of the substance.
Once the liver finishes processing the drug, it’ll make its way to the kidneys to get removed in the urine.
Realistic Timeline for Drug Detox
Research shows that drug detox usually takes between a few days to a few weeks. You may also experience lingering withdrawal symptoms or cravings for a substance longer than that, which is why longer addiction treatment programs are often a good idea to achieve lasting sobriety.
Unfortunately, this means that a quick 24-hour detox usually isn’t possible. It takes time for the body to process a substance and remove it completely so it’s undetectable in drug tests. It can also take longer if you’ve been using a substance for an extended time since drug metabolites can build up in the system.
Plus, it’s important for anyone struggling with addiction to give themselves time to recover, manage withdrawal symptoms, and work on building coping mechanisms and skills to maintain sobriety through therapy and other treatment options. Studies show that long-term treatment options tend to have the highest success rates.
Typical Drug Detection Windows
Drug detection windows can vary depending on the substance and testing method used. On average, research shows that drugs are detectable:
- In urine (the most common type of drug test) for 2-7 days, but some substances like marijuana are detectable for up to 30 days
- Saliva for 1-2 days
- Blood for 1-2 days
- Hair for up to 90 days
These windows can vary depending on individual factors. For example, individual metabolic rates can vary quite a bit. Metabolism tends to slow as we age, so older individuals may have drugs leave their system slower. Conversely, someone who’s younger, very active, and has a lower body fat percentage may have a much faster metabolism.
The Myth of 24-Hour Detox Solutions
While you may see a 24-hour urine detox or blood detox advertised, these solutions are usually not safe or effective. While someone who took a small dose of a substance one time may have it naturally leave their system and be undetectable in a blood test in 24 hours, there’s no foolproof way to ensure this happens. Plus, trying to speed up your body’s metabolic process can put your physical or mental health at risk.
Common 24-Hour Detox Options and Their Problems
One of the most common detox options is over-the-counter kits that include detox drinks and supplements that are meant to flush out your system.
However, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that these options can have several dangers. Detoxes and cleanses can cause severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and weaken immune systems.
Frequently using these methods can also cause longer-term health issues like gastrointestinal disease, kidney disease, and heart disease due to how it stresses your body.
Additionally, you may see home remedies like drinking excessive water, vinegar, cranberry juice, or taking niacin supplements to speed up detox.
One study assessed claims about drinking excessive water or herbal products to remove drugs from your system and ultimately concluded that those claims were false.
Drinking excessive amounts of vinegar can also be seriously harmful to the body. It can irritate the esophagus and stomach and damage your teeth.
Taking very high doses of niacin is also harmful since it can cause liver damage, hypotension, and peptic ulcers.
Lastly, there’s no scientific evidence that drinking cranberry juice impacts the speed of drug detox.
The Most Effective and Safe Way to Detox: Professional Rehab Services
Ultimately, any solution that claims to be a quick fix for detox is unreliable and could cause health complications. Therefore, opting for professional rehab or medical detox is a safer and more effective choice.
The benefit of professional rehab or medical detox is that you’ll have 24/7 medical support. Your treatment team can help you manage withdrawal symptoms so you stay as safe and comfortable as possible.
Some drugs or individual reactions can cause serious withdrawal symptoms and side effects like seizures that would be life-threatening if not treated appropriately. Therefore, having a medical team present each step of the way is a crucial safety measure.
You also opt for longer-term treatment options for ongoing support, such as completing a full residential treatment program consisting of therapy, support groups, and life skill building activities. This allows you to live in a controlled and supportive environment where you can focus on recovery and creating strategies for success.
Conclusion
While attempting to speed up the detox process isn’t a good idea, that doesn’t mean recovery from addiction isn’t possible. Professional rehab can help and is much more effective when you have a treatment team there to support you using evidence-based practices.
We can help with medical detox and inpatient or outpatient drug and alcohol rehab at Genesis House. Our treatment practices are evidence-based and can be personalized to fit your needs. With our friendly and knowledgeable treatment staff by your side, you’ll be able to approach detox feeling comfortable and safe.
You can contact our team at Genesis House today to learn more.
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- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. ““Detoxes” and “Cleanses”: What You Need to Know.” NCCIH, Sept. 2019, https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/detoxes-and-cleanses-what-you-need-to-know
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