Effect of certain drugs
To fail a drug test a client must have drugs present in their system that reach a certain threshold or cut out level. Passing a drug test does not require a 100% drug free sample.
Effect of certain drugs
How long certain drugs stay in a person's systems depends on a variety of factors, including (but not limited to) the:
- amount and frequency of use
- persons body mass, age, overall health and
- persons drug tolerance
Below are some examples of drugs and the average 'duration' that they are present in a person's system. This information has been sourced from several publications by experts in this area, however, this must not be considered to be 'absolute' because how drugs affect a person does depend on the factors above.
Drug | Average duration |
Amphetamines (including methamphetamine) | 1 to 7 days |
Ecstasy, Cocaine | 2 to 4 days |
Benzodiazepines | 2 to 10 days |
Marijuana / cannabis (including medicinal cannabis) | 3 to 30 days |
LSD | 1 to 3 days |
Opioids Note this covers drugs such as codeine, fentanyl, heroin, oxycodone, morphine and tramadol | 1 to 3 days |
Cannabis can stay in a person's body for several weeks, particularly if the person is a heavy or regular user. The recompliance period accounts for the general length of time it takes for cannabis to be metabolised out of the body.
Clients have 25 working days to take and pass a drug test and MSD allows an additional 5 working days to receive and process the results from the client.
Clients can consult with their registered health practitioner or the Alcohol Drug Helpline - Work and Income Support Service [no link find out why] for further guidance on how drugs may affect them.
For more information see:
Legislation
- controlled drug (definition) schedule 2 Social Security Act 2018
- Obligation to undertake and pass drug test section 147 Social Security Act 2018
- Failing drug test section 149 Social Security Act 2018
