Frequently Asked Questions

Amphetamines can generally be detected for 24 hours in saliva test, 2-4 days in a urine test and 48 hours in a blood test. However, these figures should be used as a guide only and are based on averages in the population.

No. This is a myth. Drinking a lot of water does not work to cheat a drug test, or get rid of the drug faster from your body.

There is no way to mask drug use in a drug test. To test negative on a drug test, other than not taking drugs, you need to make sure your body has eliminated all of the drugs you have taken by metabolising them.

Drugs affect every person differently. The drug you use (strength, dose, how and how often you use it and other drugs) can affect how long it stays in your system. It can also be affected by you as an individual depending on your tolerance, age and gender, overall health, metabolism, mood and environment you are in.

Drug testing is rarely conducted when someone presents to the hospital, as medical staff treat the symptoms a person presents to the hospital with. On the rare occasion that drug testing is done, the hospital would not send the information to the police.

The only case in which Police are able to access these results is through the court subpoena system. Ambulance, hospital and medical staff are there to help the patient and act in the patients best medical interests.

It is important to remember that Ambulance and Medical staff are there to help, not to dob. Police are only notified if there is a death or if staff feel threatened.

The only way to test negative on a drug test, other than not taking drugs, is to make sure your body has eliminated all of the drugs you have taken by metabolising it. However, with hair drug tests, whilst your body might have eliminated the drug, there may still be residues in the hair follicle that could still show up tests, therefore is different to a urine/saliva/blood test. Drugs can still show up in the hair because hair growth is fed by a blood stream, therefore anything in the blood stream could lodge in the hair follicle (information provided by ChemCentre).

Saliva testing is used in random roadside drug testing. It is used to detect the presence of THC (the active component in cannabis) and amphetamine type stimulants including methylamphetamine (‘speed’ or ‘ice’) and MDMA (‘ecstasy’), which are, after alcohol, the drugs of greatest concern in relation to road safety.

A roadside saliva screening test takes around five minutes. Where a positive result is obtained, the driver is required to undertake a second saliva test or provide a blood sample to confirm the presence of the prescribed drug. In most cases, the confirmatory saliva test takes around 30 minutes.

Ecstasy is the name given to methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). MDMA can be detected in saliva for approximately 24 hours after use, cocaine can be detected in the saliva for 12-24 hours after use and Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (the active component in cannabis) can be detected in saliva for 6-12 hours after use. However, this all depends on the amount and potency used, and a person’s metabolism rate.

It is important to note that the detection of drugs and their metabolites in any biological sample (blood, urine and saliva) can change depending on the individual person and their biological factors and most suggested time frames are based on scientific studies but individual results may vary.

The detection of drugs and their metabolites in any biological sample (blood, urine and saliva) is dependent on the drug used  (type, strength, dose, how and how often you use it and other drugs ) and can change depending on the individual person and their biological factors.  It is also important to note that most suggested time frames are based on scientific studies but individual results may vary.

The only way to ensure there are no traces of drugs in your blood, other than not using drugs or being exposed to drugs, is to make sure your body has eliminated all of the drugs in your body by metabolising it.

A simple saliva or urine drug test can be purchased at a pharmacy or online. These tests will indicate if a person has a range of illicit drugs in their system; usually testing for ice (methamphetamine), cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), amphetamines, opiates (heroin) and marijuana. These tests only work if a person has the drug in their system at the time of testing.

It is important to note that the detection of drugs and their metabolites in any biological sample (blood, urine and saliva) can change depending on the individual person and their biological factors and most suggested time frames are based on scientific studies but individual results may vary.

If alcohol or other drug use has become a problem for you – you can contact the Alcohol and Drug Support Line (ADSL) on (08) 9442 5000 (1800 198 024 country callers toll-free). ADSL is a 24hr confidential service that can help with information, counselling, referral and advice on alcohol and other drugs

Unfortunately Drug Aware cannot recommend a specific testing kit. Home testing kits can be purchased at a pharmacy, therefore we recommend you contact a pharmacist for advice.

For  information and support on alcohol and drugs call the Alcohol and Drug Support Line confidentially, 24/7 on (08) 9442 5000 (country callers toll-free on 1800 198 024).

The only way to get methamphetamine out of the system is for the body to have fully metabolised it at its natural pace. There is nothing that can be done to speed up this process.

Generally, methamphetamine will stay in a person’s system for up to 4 days. However, this can be different for everyone as drugs affect people in different ways.

Meth can be detected in blood for 48 hours, in saliva for 24 hours, in urine for 2-4 days and in hair follicles for up to 90 days.

There are a number of factors that influence the time it takes for the body to metabolise methamphetamine. This can include:

• The drug: strength, dose, method of use and how often you use.
• The individual: age, gender, overall health and drug tolerance.
• The environment: the environment and mood you are in at the time of use, and if you have taken other legal (e.g. alcohol or prescription drugs) or illicit drugs.