Drug misuse and abuse are happening rampantly all over the world, and these are something that we should handle very seriously. One of the drugs that are prone to this is Adderall, a brand for an amphetamine used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, for it is a neuro-stimulant that can elevate every sensation. However, people who don’t suffer from the disorder are also being bought and used to gain focus, increased attention to details, and energy. Usually, the best examples are exam takers and athletes.
In a study published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry way back in 2016, it is found that Adderall misuse and abuse is the highest in the adult age group of 18 to 25, and their primary access to get the medication is from their family members who have a prescription. The reason behind this is because Adderall doesn’t just work miracles on attention and energy. It can also be used for sleeping disorders and severe depression.
For the ones who are taking up Adderall, there is an important question that needs to be answered: “How long does Adderall stay in your system?”. So, let us discuss this along with the factors that can affect the drug duration.
How Long Does Adderall Stay In Your System?
Your body absorbs the drug through the gastrointestinal tract. Like any oral medication, it is broken down or metabolized through your liver and eliminated through your urine. However, Adderall works out its way through the different parts or components of your body, such as hair, blood, and saliva. It can also be detected in these components of your body.
In Your Urine
The length of time that Adderall can stay in your urine depends on the amount of the drug that you took. On average, it can be detected here up to 48 to 96 hours after the last intake. However, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, chronic use of the drug may lead to staying in your urine for up to a week.
In Your Blood
The use of Adderall can be quickly detected in the blood right after use because, according to a report by the Food and Drug Administration, it causes peak plasma concentrations for about three hours after ingestion. Furthermore, even after that, Adderall can still be found in your blood for up to 46 hours after the last use.
In Your Saliva
If you take Adderall 10 minutes before a drug test, then you will get a positive result. Adderall stays in your system for months, and it can be detected in your saliva for up to 72 hours. Saliva tests are not 100% accurate, though. If you smoke or ingest other substances aside from Adderall, then such contents will be detected in the test instead of Adderall.
In Your Hair
Hair strands are not often used in drug testing. However, it can be an efficient way of detecting Adderall from a person’s system for the drug stays in their hair for up to three months after the last consumption.
Factors That Can Affect Drug Duration
The duration of Adderall varies greatly from every individual, mainly because of physiological reasons. Each of us has different body chemistries, body type, and physical activity levels. Aside from these physiological factors, you also have to consider the dosage, potency, and frequency of consumption to determine how long Adderall would stay in your system.
Here are more details on the different factors that can affect how long Adderall would stay in your system:
Age
As we grow older, so will our organs grow older too. Some of our organs will not function as good as they do when we are in our younger years. Here are some of the effects age to our organs that can affect how long Adderall can stay in our systems:
As we grow older, our livers shrink. A smaller liver would lead to a longer processing time needed to cleanse Adderall out of your system if you consumed it when you are in your later years of life.
Aside from the liver, kidneys are also affected by old age. Regulation of urine may decrease due to the organ being “worn out,” which means that Adderall would stay longer in your system since you will urinate less frequently.
Your fat cells increase as you grow older. Fat cells store Adderall longer, and it might be harder to burn these fat cells when you are older.
Stress Levels
When stressed, your body releases so many hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, which can affect body chemistry. This also raises your blood pressure and heart rate, making it easier for Adderall to spread throughout your body system and bind to these chemicals that are distributed to your organs.
So if you have normal high-stress levels, it is also highly likely that Adderall would stay longer in your system.
Frequency of Consumption
Aside from physiological factors above, Adderall will surely stay longer in your body if you frequently consume it. It is only logical that people who consume Adderall daily have drug detectable in their system longer than people who only consume Adderall once a month.
Adderall is a drug that can be abused easily, and many people are addicted to it, leading to them consuming it more frequently.
Dosage
Just like the frequency of consumption, the dosage also affects how long Adderall would stay in your body. More substantial doses would mean that your organs, such as kidneys and liver, would find it harder to cleanse Adderall out of your system. Larger doses of Adderall also enable the drug to spread quickly to your body through your bloodstream.
Need help? Call us!
Adderall should be consumed responsibly and only as prescribed by physicians and medical experts. If you are suffering from Adderall addiction, or happen to know someone who is suffering from Adderall addiction, do not hesitate to reach out to us at the Recovery Blvd Treatment Center by calling through our trunkline: (866) 231-3007 or visit our Facebook page and website. You may also visit us at 1316 SE 12th Avenue Portland, OR 97214.
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