Prescription painkillers like Vicodin and OxyContin will show up on a drug test.
Does that mean you’ll lose your job?
If you have a current prescription, bring that with you to your drug testing. Unless you have a job that would make prescription painkiller use unsafe (such as air traffic controller) you should be fine. Don’t go directly to your employer with your prescription; just take it with you to your drug screening.
If, however, you take painkillers without a subscription, you could be in trouble. It just depends on how long ago you last took a pill and the kind of drug test used. Variables such as your weight, body mass index, metabolism, age and general health could all come into play. (In general, the leaner, younger and healthier you are, the more quickly your body processes the drug.)
You know how the medical community always cautions against taking someone else’s prescription? That’s for your general well-being, but it’s also prudent advice when it comes to drug screenings. Let’s say you had had a horrible toothache and took one of your husband’s old pain pills.
Innocent enough, right? Perhaps, unless you end up facing a random drug test the next day.
Let’s get into the details.
How Long Do Painkillers Stay in Your Blood and Saliva?
Painkillers such as Vicodin, Percocet and OxyContin can be detected in your blood or saliva for one to four days after the last time you used.
How Long Do Painkillers Stay in Your Urine?
Prescription painkillers can be detected in the urine for anywhere from one to six days since the last time you used.
How Long Do Painkillers Stay in Your Hair?
Hair tests are considered the gold standard of drug testing. That’s because they can detect drug use for as long as 90 days since the last time you used.
When it comes to painkillers, this is a critical fact to know. If, for example, you took Vicodin following surgery three months ago, you’ll want to dig up your old prescription (or track down a record of it) and bring it with you to your drug screening.
Painkillers are harming your body more than you think
Maybe you only meant to take painkillers for medical reasons and ended up with addiction. However, the long-term use of painkillers can have surprising detrimental effects on your body.
Getting Help at The Raleigh House
There are legitimate reasons to take prescription painkillers. But it’s a known fact that the over-prescription of these drugs caused the opiate epidemic. Painkillers can be as deadly as heroin—and can destroy a life just as fast.
If you need help, we’re ready for you at The Raleigh House. Our goal isn’t just to get you off painkillers. It’s to help you build a better life. Interesting in learning more? Fill out our form or call today to learn more about our painkiller treatment program.
