Detection Time: Methamphetamine

Detection Time of Methamphetamine: Compared to cocaine, methamphetamine’s effects can be more intense and last longer. The half-life for methamphetamine (the time period required for the body to decrease the blood level of methamphetamine by 50%) ranges from 6- 20 hours. The time window for detecting methamphetamine will depend on both testing factors and individual [&hellip Read More...

Concentration and Metabolites: Methamphetamine

Blood concentrations for methamphetamine use as a prescribed medication are typically in the range of .02-.05 mg/L for a person taking methamphetamine prescribed for attention deficit disorder, weight loss or narcolepsy.  Drug abuse with methamphetamine yields blood levels as low as .01 mg/L and 2.5 mg/L.  Levels above 3.0 mg/L have been documented and are [&hellip Read More...

Methamphetamine: Screening

Screening: Methamphetamine is typically detected through urine and blood screens that offer positive or negative (“qualitative”) results. A positive result on a screen often leads to a confirmatory test that will use more sophisticated laboratory tests which can quantitate the concentration of the drug and drug metabolites. Interpreting screening and confirmatory testing results can be [&hellip Read More...

Meth: What triggers a drug screen?

Methamphetamine use has physical manifestations that heighten suspicion of use and lead to a drug screen. The category of stimulants, which includes methamphetamine, methylphenidate and cocaine, all produce dilation of pupils and the pupils appear abnormally large. Unlike sedatives, stimulants do not cause gaze nystagmus (jerky eye movements that become apparent when a person looks [&hellip Read More...