How Long Do Opioids Stay In Your Blood?

Opioid drugs can be detected through blood testing, though the window for detection is much shorter than with urine or hair testing. Blood tests capture what’s currently circulating in the bloodstream at the time of collection, making them most useful for identifying very recent use rather than patterns of long-term consumption.

Detection times in blood vary considerably depending on the specific opioid involved, ranging from as little as six hours for heroin to up to three days for methadone. While blood tests are the least commonly used method for routine drug screening, they play an important role in emergency and clinical settings where confirming very recent use quickly is the priority.

Read more about detecting opioids through drug tests

Opioid Detection Times In Blood

Opioid drugs can be detected in the blood for anywhere from six hours to three days, depending on the type of opioid that was used and other personal factors.

Detection times for common opioid drugs include:

• oxycodone (OxyContin): up to 24 hours
• hydrocodone (Vicodin): up to 24 hours
• hydromorphone (Dilaudid): up to 24 hours
• oxymorphone (Opana): up to 24 hours
• tramadol (Ultram): up to 48 hours
• methadone: between 30 minutes to three days
• codeine: up to 24 hours
• morphine: up to 12 hours
• fentanyl: up to 48 hours
• heroin: up to six hours

Factors That Affect How Long Opioids Remain In Blood

Not all bodies metabolize opioid drugs at the same speed. Metabolism and other factors can influence how long opioid drugs will remain detectable in a person’s blood.

Factors that can affect opioid detection times in blood include:

• age
• dose taken
• formulation (i.e. immediate or extended-release)
• frequency of use
• duration of use
• method of use (e.g. swallowing, injection, snorting)
• metabolism
• body composition (e.g. weight, body fat percentage)
• use of other drugs

Why Blood Drug Tests Are Used

Blood testing is generally reserved for situations where the timing of drug use matters and needs to be confirmed quickly. Because the detection window is so short, most opioids clear the blood within 24 to 48 hours, blood tests are not practical for routine workplace screening or monitoring long-term drug use patterns, which are better suited to urine or hair testing.

The most common contexts for opioid blood testing include emergency room assessments following a suspected overdose, roadside or post-accident impairment testing where law enforcement needs to confirm very recent use, and clinical monitoring of patients on prescribed opioids where a doctor needs to verify current blood levels rather than just recent use. Blood tests can also be ordered when urine or saliva testing isn’t available or practical, or when a more precise measurement of what’s in the system right now is necessary.

Finding Treatment For Opioid Addiction

Below are some of the most common treatment services for opioid use disorder.

Treatment options may include:

• opioid detox
• inpatient rehab programs
• outpatient treatment
• medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
• dual diagnosis treatment
• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• group therapy
• 12-step support groups
• family therapy

For more information about opioid addiction treatment programs, browse our directory or reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff