Morphine is a type of opiate drug derived from the poppy plant. The current medical use for morphine is pain management for moderate to severe conditions, such as chemotherapy, post-surgery recovery, or general anesthesia. If you are prescribed morphine for any health condition or have been using it recently, you may be wondering how long does morphine stay in your system.
There are average drug detection timelines for different substances. These timelines determine how long is morphine detectable in urine, blood, saliva, hair, skin, and other drug tests that can be administered to you. Whether you are taking a test for employment, formal applications, or for any other reason, take a look at the typical timelines below to know how long you should wait to test negative for morphine.
Does Morphine Show Up In A Drug Test?
As morphine belongs to the class of opiates, it is highly likely that the drug will show positive if you have taken it recently. Common urine tests for background checks and employment will detect morphine, and the chance of tracing the drug increases if you are going through long-term drug use.
Morphine half-life
Drug detection in the body is deeply associated with the substance’s half-life. The half-life is the amount of time it takes for the drug to be processed, such that only 50% of the dosage is circulating in the body. Long-acting drugs with lasting effects will have an increased duration of half-lives, while those which are short-acting will only have shorter half-lives.
Morphine has an average half-life of 2-3 hours on typical dosages. This, however, does not mean that the body has totally rid of the amount of drug on the body. It may take days or weeks for the body to fully process the eliminate morphine.
To get a better picture of how long does morphine last in the body, you can refer to the average timelines below for each sample type.
Morphine Drug Detection Timelines
The average timelines for detecting morphine in the body are as follows:
- Saliva – Morphine will still be detected in saliva and blood for up to four days since the last dosage.
- Urine and blood – The drug will be detected in a drug test for up to three days since the last dosage.
- Hair and skin – Traces of morphine will still be detected for up to 3 months since the last dosage.
Take note that these are average timelines–there are a lot of factors that can still affect the length of time morphine stays in the body. The length of time on how long is morphine detectable in urine, blood, hair, skin, or saliva can heavily depend on internal and external factors of drug use.
Factors That Affect Processing Of Morphine In The Body
The timelines below can be a good reference for people with typical conditions such as average height, weight, and health status. However, it is important to take note of other factors that can affect the processing of morphine in the body, such as:
- Height and weight: People who have a higher body mass index (BMI) will tend to process morphine slower than those with a lesser BMI. Those who are taller tend to have faster processing than people who are shorter as well.
- Health conditions: Individuals with metabolic issues, kidney problems, liver problems, or excretory disorders can also tend to process morphine slower.
- Other drugs: If one is taking other drugs along with morphine, this can also slow down the processing of the substance in the body, and may also affect the detection timelines.
- Overall metabolism: Metabolism differs from one person to another. People with robust metabolism will tend to process the drug more quickly than those with slower metabolic rates.
Signs of Morphine Abuse
Another important condition to think about beyond finding out how long does morphine stay in the system is the signs of drug abuse. Drug abuse does not only derail your chances of showing negative in a test, but it can also pose life-threatening complications. Below are the signs you need to watch out for morphine abuse in yourself or a loved one:
- Feelings of euphoria
- Impaired mental state
- Shifting moods
- Taking more morphine than what was originally prescribed
- Obtaining more prescriptions than necessary
- Increased sedation
- Lack of appetite
- Withdrawal symptoms when not using the drug
If any of these symptoms are present, it can be indicative of a morphine abuse problem.
Are alcohol and drugs ruining your life?
Find help nowHow To Get Help For Morphine Abuse
Taking the first step for morphine abuse is usually the most challenging one to make. It can be difficult when you don’t know what to expect, but below are some of the ways to make the decision much easier.
Contact a trusted rehab center
A rehab center that specializes in morphine abuse can be of great help. Firstly, they can provide counsel on how to determine morphine addiction, or how you can set up an intervention for a loved one going through drug abuse. They can also assist in verifying your insurance or giving you other financing options so you can get started with treatment. Most of these initial steps are free of charge, so they can help you make an informed decision.
Let trusted people know
If you have people in your circle that you can trust, such as concerned friends or family, it can be helpful to tell them about your journey towards addiction recovery. Letting people know can gain you various kinds of support such as emotional, financial, or other types of assistance you may need as you undergo rehab.
Get in touch with free local sources
Another easier first step you can take is calling local resources provided by nonprofits or the government. You can join a local Narcotics Anonymous group, join a church life group, or participate in wellness clubs offered by the community.
Morphine Abuse: Finding Long-Term Solutions
Perhaps you have arrived at this resource to find a short-term solution to passing a morphine drug test. As you discover the detection timelines, signs of abuse, and how to get help, hopefully, this information will illuminate you to find long-term solutions to morphine addiction.
Sources

Medical disclaimer:
Sunshine Behavioral Health strives to help people who are facing substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions. It does this by providing compassionate care and evidence-based content that addresses health, treatment, and recovery.
Licensed medical professionals review material we publish on our site. The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, treatment, or advice. It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals.
