Drug Facts & Substance Abuse Resources
Explore our library of resources for drug addiction written by medical experts.
Physical and Mental Effects of Drugs
Alcohol
How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System?
It takes around 25 hours for your body to completely rid alcohol from its system. Alcohol’s half-life is four to five hours, meaning that it takes 4-5 hours for your body to process and dispose of the alcohol you’ve consumed. However, it takes 4-5 half-lives to completely eradicate alcohol from the body.
More About How Long Alcohol Stays In Your System
Signs of Alcohol Withdrawal
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal begin to peak within 24-72 hours. Some of these symptoms may include:
- Anxiety.
- Depression.
- Irritability.
- Moodiness or mood swings.
- Shakiness or tremors.
- Sweating/clammy skin.
- Headache.
- Insomnia.
- Nausea.
- Symptoms of delirium tremens, including hallucinations, agitation, fever, seizures, and confusion.
Alcohol Overdose/Poisoning
An alcohol overdose refers to an excessive amount of alcohol in someone’s bloodstream. Due to this surplus of alcohol, areas of the brain may begin to shut down. Symptoms of alcohol overdose may include:
- Confusion.
- Difficulty remaining conscious.
- Vomiting.
- Trouble breathing.
- Slowed heart rate,
- Sweating or clammy skin.
- Dulled bodily responses such as no gag reflex (which prevents choking).
- Low body temperature.
Alcohol overdose can lead to permanent brain damage or death. If you believe that you or a loved one is experiencing an alcohol overdose, call 911 immediately or head to your closest emergency room.
More About Alcohol Overdose & Poisoning
Cocaine
How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?
Signs of Cocaine Withdrawal
Symptoms of cocaine withdrawal may include:
- Agitation, irritability, and restlessness.
- Depression.
- Tiredness.
- Increased appetite.
- Slowing of activity.
Cocaine Overdose
A cocaine overdose refers to an excessive amount of cocaine in someone’s body. Symptoms of cocaine overdose may include:
- Confusion.
- Loss of urine control.
- High body temperature.
- Sweating.
- High blood pressure.
- Fast heart rate.
- Bluish color of the skin.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Seizures.
- Death.
Slang for Cocaine
Heroin
How Long Does Heroin Stay in Your System?
Signs of Heroin Withdrawal
Symptoms of heroin withdrawal may include:
- Nausea, vomiting, or stomach upset.
- Anxiety, irritability, or moodiness.
- Sweating.
- Chills.
- Muscle cramps.
- Watery discharge from eyes and nose.
- Diarrhea.
Heroin Overdose
A heroin overdose refers to when someone has an excessive amount of heroin in their body. Symptoms of heroin overdose may include:
- Lack of breathing.
- Shallow breathing.
- Low blood pressure.
- Small pupils.
- Dry mouth.
- Bluish skin.
- Coma.
- Disorientation.
- Drowsiness.
- Uncontrolled muscle movements.
If you believe that you or a loved one may be experiencing a heroin overdose, call 911 immediately or go to your nearest emergency room.
Slang for Heroin
Marijuana
How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Your System?
The effects of marijuana generally fade within hours, but can last up to 24 hours. For your body to completely eliminate marijuana from your blood, it will take at least a few hours. For regular marijuana users, this drug can be detected in your urine for up to 45 days.
More About How Long Weed Stays In Your System
Signs of Marijuana Withdrawal
Symptoms of cannabis withdrawal may include:
- Irritability.
- Cannabis cravings.
- Anxiety.
- Aggression.
- Sleep difficulties.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Wild or vivid dreams.
- Headaches.
More About Marijuana Withdrawal
Marijuana Overdose
A fatal marijuana overdose is highly unlikely, however, using too much marijuana may result in the amplification of certain effects of this drug. Symptoms of consuming too much marijuana include:
- Extreme confusion.
- Anxiety or panic.
- Paranoia.
- Rapid heart rate.
- Hallucinations.
- Delusions.
- High blood pressure.
- Nausea and vomiting.
Slang for Marijuana
Meth
How Long Does Meth Stay in Your System?
Unlike cocaine, a stimulant that’s quickly removed from and almost completely metabolized in the body, meth remains in the body—largely unchanged by the body’s metabolism—much longer, leading to prolonged stimulant effects. It has a half-life of 9-24 hours. This means that it takes 9-24 hours for the amount of meth in a person’s blood to be reduced by half.
More About How Long Meth Stays In Your System
Signs of Meth Withdrawal
According to research, it appears that the primary symptoms during this withdrawal period consist of:
- Feelings of fatigue, lethargy, and excessive sleepiness (typical of withdrawal from stimulant medications) are common.
- Increased appetite, dry mouth, and some episodes of jitteriness generally occur.
- It reaches its peak within the first 7-10 days following discontinuation of the drug.
Meth Overdose
Common symptoms of a meth overdose include:
- Chest pain
- Arrhythmias
- Hypertension or hypotension
- Difficult or labored breathing
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
- Psychosis
- Seizures
- Rapid or slow heartbeat
- Hyperthermia
If you believe that you or a loved one may be experiencing a methamphetamine overdose, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room immediately.
Slang for Meth
Prescription Opioids
How Long Do Prescription Opioids Stay in Your System?
Short-acting and long-acting prescription opioids, such as Oxycontin, Codeine, Fentanyl, Suboxone, and Morphine, may stay in your system for varying lengths of time, and also depend on your sex, body weight, age, and other personal factors. However, short-acting opioid withdrawal symptoms can typically arise within 8-12 hours of last use, and peak within 1-3 days. These withdrawal symptoms may continue for up to 7 days.
More About How Long Opioids Stay In Your System
Signs of Opioid Withdrawal
Symptoms of prescription opioid withdrawal may include:
- Nausea, vomiting, or stomach upset.
- Anxiety, irritability, or moodiness.
- Sweating.
- Chills.
- Muscle cramps.
- Watery discharge from eyes and nose.
- Diarrhea.
Prescription Opioid Overdose
An opioid overdose refers to an excessive amount of prescription opioids in someone’s body. Symptoms of prescription opioid overdose may include:
- Lack of breathing.
- Shallow breathing.
- Low blood pressure.
- Small pupils.
- Dry mouth.
- Bluish skin.
- Coma.
- Disorientation.
- Drowsiness.
- Uncontrolled muscle movements.
If you believe that you or a loved one may be experiencing a prescription opioid overdose, call 911 immediately or go to your nearest emergency room.
