Heroin<\/a> (diamorphine) is a semi-synthetic opioid that is used as a recreational drug. All opioid drugs work similarly interacting with mu opioid receptors<\/a> in the central nervous system<\/a>, which reduces the perception of pain and enhances the feeling of well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Certain factors, such as the length of time used and the person\u2019s weight, can affect<\/a> how long heroin stays in the system. Further, different types of drug tests are able to detect heroin use for varying amounts of time, depending on the test type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a few key points to remember about heroin and drug tests:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When heroin enters the body, it is rapidly broken down into other substances called metabolites. The half-life of heroin in blood is\u00a0about three minutes<\/a>. Because it takes around\u00a0five half-lives<\/a>\u00a0for the body to get rid of a drug,<\/a> heroin itself will be undetectable in the blood after about 15 minutes. However, heroin\u2019s metabolites have longer half-lives, meaning they can be detected for much longer. These metabolites\u00a0include<\/a>\u00a0morphine as well as\u00a06-acetylmorphine (6-MAM)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6-MAM is a metabolite that is unique to heroin. Drug tests will test for 6-MAM to confirm heroin use specifically, as opposed to the use of other opioids. The half-life of 6-MAM is 30 minutes<\/a>, so it stays in the system for around 150 minutes \u2014 much longer than its parent drug, heroin.<\/p>\n\n\n Heroin can be detected in the urine for\u00a0up to 48 hours<\/a>\u00a0after the last dose. This is mainly\u00a0due to the presence<\/a>\u00a0of its metabolite morphine. A drug urine test is the most common method of screening for drugs, including heroin. Urine testing is relatively easy, cheap and safe, and many entities will choose this method.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Commercial hair drug-testing kits take about a half-inch of hair from the scalp. How long heroin can be detected will depend on how fast the hair grows. For most people, heroin use is detectable in the hair sample for\u00a0around 90 days<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Blood tests are not commonly used for heroin. This is because both heroin and 6-MAM have such\u00a0short half-lives<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Heroin shows up in the saliva\u00a0within two minutes of administration<\/a>. When\u00a0smoking heroin<\/a>, saliva concentration is higher than blood concentration for up to 60 minutes. Afterward, it decreases to the same as blood concentration.<\/p>\n Like blood tests for heroin, a saliva test is not very useful because of how fast the drug metabolizes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t People who are using heroin\u00a0should not breastfeed<\/a>\u00a0their children because heroin passes into the breast milk. The baby will be exposed to heroin in the breast milk, creating the risk of an overdose. Further, if heroin use ends after the baby has been exposed, the baby can go through withdrawal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Heroin itself breaks down so quickly in the body that it is generally not detected in drug tests. Instead, tests screen for heroin\u2019s breakdown products \u2014 6-MAM and morphine.<\/p>\n 6-MAM is unique to heroin, meaning that drugs other than heroin do not break down to form this product. As a result,\u00a0false positives for 6-MAM<\/a>\u00a0are practically unheard of. Morphine is another heroin byproduct that is detectable in drug tests.\u00a0False positives for morphine<\/a>\u00a0can occur through recent ingestion of poppy seeds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n Different factors can impact how long heroin stays in the body, including<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similar to many other drugs, weight and body mass can increase<\/a> the amount of time heroin is detected. Drug tests will detect heroin and 6-MAM longer in people who weigh more because the drugs will release slowly into the bloodstream. High body fat may extend the window of heroin detection by several days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heroin overdoses can be deadly, and overdose death rates have surged<\/a> since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Heroin overdose symptoms are similar to those of other opioids and may include<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A heroin overdose is a medical emergency that can have fatal outcomes. If you have the opioid reversal agent naloxone available, you should administer it immediately and then call 911.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The only way to get heroin out of your system is to stop using the drug, which gives your body time to metabolize and remove it. Quitting suddenly can result in uncomfortable and dangerous withdrawal symptoms, so consult your doctor about treatment options. Professional help from an inpatient or outpatient program<\/a> may be needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you need to get heroin out of your system because you think you\u2019ve taken too much and are at risk of overdose, seek medical help immediately. Heroin overdose symptoms include<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drug overdose can be fatal. If you suspect someone is experiencing an overdose, call 911 immediately. Do NOT be afraid to seek help. If you do not have access to a phone, contact Web Poison Control Services<\/a> for online assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During heroin detox<\/a>, the body eliminates and metabolizes heroin. Detox and withdrawal can be uncomfortable and difficult, so many people seek out professional detox programs when deciding to quit heroin. Additionally, attempting to go \u201ccold turkey\u201d or quit without medical assistance can be dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you or someone you love is ready to find treatment for heroin addiction<\/a>, The Recovery Village is here to help. Our helpful representatives are always available to speak with you about treatment programs<\/a> that can help you begin a healthier, heroin-free life. Contact us<\/a> today to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Drug tests can measure heroin in saliva, blood, urine, and hair for different lengths of time. In a new mother, heroin can pass through breast milk and harm the baby. Heroin (diamorphine) is a semi-synthetic opioid that is used as a recreational drug. All opioid drugs work similarly interacting with mu opioid receptors in the central nervous system, which…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":2993,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/content-page-template.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[10],"acf":{"block_title":"How Long Does Heroin Stay in Your System","block_ctabutton":"","block_ctabuttonstyle":"primary","authors":[{"authors_label":"By","authors_linkto":true,"authors_member":[215],"authors_name":"","authors_tooltip":false,"authors_tooltip_text":""},{"authors_label":"Editor","authors_linkto":true,"authors_member":[338],"authors_name":"","authors_tooltip":false,"authors_tooltip_text":""},{"authors_label":"Medically Reviewed By","authors_linkto":true,"authors_member":[340],"authors_name":"","authors_tooltip":true,"authors_tooltip_text":"A licensed behavioral health or medical professional on The Recovery Village Editorial Team has analyzed and confirmed every statistic, study and medical claim on this page."}],"show_last_updated":true,"additional_tooltip_text":"","additional_text":"Editorial Policy<\/span><\/a> | <\/span>Research Policy<\/span><\/a>"},"yoast_head":"\nArticle at a Glance:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Heroin Showing Up on Drug Tests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Factors That Affect How Long Heroin Stays in the System<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Does Weight Affect Heroin Detection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Overdose Risk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to Get Heroin Out of Your System<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Getting Help for Heroin Addiction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n