How long does alcohol stay in your system? The answer to this question can be influenced by a variety of factors, including the amount and frequency of your alcohol use, the health of your liver and other organs, and the type of drug test you take.
The Science Behind Alcohol and the Body
When you consume alcohol, a small portion of the drug will pass unchanged through your system. It will then be eliminated through urine, sweat, or breath. The majority of it will be absorbed by the lining of your stomach or your small intestine, after which it will enter your bloodstream.
Once in your blood, the alcohol will be distributed to tissues and organs throughout your body. As this blood passes through your liver, special enzymes will begin to filter the alcohol molecules out of your bloodstream and convert them into substances that can be more easily and safely eliminated.
Two of the enzymes that play a key role in this process are alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH).
- ADH converts alcohol molecules into a substance called acetaldehyde. This is a dangerous substance that has been linked with several types of cancer.
- If your liver is functioning as it should, the ALDH enzyme will quickly convert the acetaldehyde into acetate. Your body can then break acetate into water and carbon dioxide for easy elimination.
- If your liver is damaged, one possible result is that it takes longer for the acetaldehyde to be converted into acetate. The extended presence of acetaldehyde in your system can put you at elevated risk of myriad health problems.
The speed with which this process occurs can also be affected by factors such as your age, weight, and history of alcohol use.
Types of Drug Tests That Detect Alcohol
Often, the purpose of the question, how long does alcohol stay in your system, is to determine how long you will test positive for alcohol on a drug screen.
The answer to that question can vary a great deal depending on which type of drug screen you will be taking. Alcohol can be detected by the following types of tests:
- Breath
- Blood
- Urine
- Hair
However, not every drug screen is designed to detect alcohol. For example, if you’re scheduled for a typical pre-employment drug test, you probably won’t be tested for alcohol at all.
Employment-related drug screenings usually use what are referred to as five panel, seven panel, or 10 panel tests. None of these tests look for alcohol.
A standard five panel drug test is designed to determine if a person has recently used any of the following substances:
- THC (which is the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana)
- Opioids (a category of drugs that includes heroin, morphine, fentanyl, and the primary active ingredients in most prescription painkillers)
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Cocaine
- Amphetamine
The standard seven-panel test will look for the five substances listed above, plus:
- Benzodiazepines (a class of anti-anxiety meds that are often referred to as benzos)
- Barbiturates (a category of sedative-hypnotic drugs that includes phenobarbital and secobarbital)
A standard 10-panel test will add to the seven-panel list by also screening for:
- Methadone
- Propoxyphene
- Quaaludes
Tests that can detect alcohol are typically conducted in special situations such as:
- After being stopped by police on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol
- In order to operate a motor vehicle after being convicted of certain drunk driving offenses (some locations require the installation of ignition interlock devices, which prevent a car from being started until the driver submits an alcohol-free breath sample)
- To meet requirements of parole or for another court-ordered reason
- For certain jobs that require abstinence from alcohol
- As a condition of your continued residence in a sober-living house
Some parents purchase at-home breathalyzers or other tests to monitor their children’s behaviors. Some adults who have struggled with alcohol abuse may also take at-home tests to demonstrate to partners, spouses, or other loved ones that they have not been drinking.
How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System for After Drinking?
If you are required to take a drug screen that checks for the presence of alcohol, you may understandably want to know, how long does alcohol stay in your system once you’ve stopped drinking?
Here are the expected timelines for the four types of tests that we referenced in the previous section:
- Breath: A typical breathalyzer will likely be able to detect alcohol for up to 24 hours.
- Blood: A blood test will typically be able to detect alcohol for six to 12 hours (or no more than half a day) after your most recent drink.
- Standard urine test: If you take a urine test that only looks for the presence of alcohol itself in your pee, you may test positive if you’ve had a drink in the previous 12-24 hours.
- EtG or EtS urine test: These are specialized drug screens that look for alcohol metabolites (substances that are produced when your body breaks down and eliminates alcohol). These tests can find metabolites in your pee for up to 80 hours (or more than three days) after the last time you consumed alcohol.
- Hair: If your hair follicles are tested for markers of alcohol use, they may return a positive result for as long as six months after your most recent drink.
Breath, blood, and standard urine tests look for alcohol molecules that haven’t yet been processed by your body. EtG and EtS urine tests and hair follicle tests look for evidence that alcohol has been in your system.
It can be helpful to think of metabolites and other markers as fingerprints. In a criminal case, fingerprints are proof that a certain person was in a certain location, even though they’re no longer there. In the context of an alcohol screening, metabolites are proof that you had been drinking at some point in the recent past, even though you no longer have alcohol in your system.
Contact Renewal If You Need Help Detoxing From Alcohol
The best way to be sure that you won’t test positive for alcohol on a drug screen is to quit drinking. If you have a history of unsuccessful efforts to end your alcohol use, you may benefit from professional help.
Renewal Health Group offers a full continuum of customized addiction treatment services at multiple locations in Southern California.
If you’ve been unable to get through withdrawal – or you fear that attempting to withdraw from alcohol could be dangerous for you – you can start your recovery journey in our detox program. Our experienced detox professionals can protect your health and keep you as comfortable as possible as you rid your body of alcohol.
Once you’ve completed detox, you can transition into a residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, or outpatient program. These programs can help you build the skills that will support your efforts to maintain an alcohol-free lifestyle.
To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.
Published: 10/23/2024
