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COTININE (Nicotine)
Nicotine is a stimulant and sedative to the central nervous system.
The substance is physically and psychologically addictive.
When ingesting nicotine, there is an almost immediate result of the
person feeling "happy" due to a discharge of epinephrine from the
adrenal cortex. This is followed by stimulation of the central nervous
system and other endocrine glands, which causes a quick release of
glucose. After this stimulation, there is depression and fatigue
which then compels the user to seek more nicotine to get back to the
"happy" feeling. Over 50 million Americans smoke, which makes
nicotine one of the most addictive substances in the United States.
In 1989 the Surgeon General issued a report stating that cigarettes
and other forms of tobacco are addicting and that the substance which
causes the addiction is nicotine.
Tobacco smoking will result in the absorption of nicotine via the
lung and oral/nasal tissues. The nicotine is then metabolized into
approximately 20 different metabolites and excreted in the urine.
Continine is a major metabolite and accumulates in the body when smoking
is a regular occurance.
Length of time Drugs Stay in System
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This chart shows the minimum and maximum detection time, on average, that certain drugs stay in a person's system.*
|
| Substance
|
Minimum
|
Maximum
|
| Alcohol |
|
24 hours |
| Amphetamines |
2-7 hours
|
2-4 days |
| Barbiturates |
4 to 6 hours
|
4.5 days for short acting
10 days for long-acting |
| Benzodiazepines |
4 to 6 hours
|
up to 10 days |
| Cannabinoids (THC) |
2 Hours |
Infrequent user: up to 10 days
Chronic user: 6 weeks
|
| Cocaine Metabolite |
1.25 - 4 hours |
2-3 days |
| Methamphetamine (mAMP) |
2-7 hours |
2-4 days
|
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)
|
2-4 hours |
1-3 days
|
| Methadone |
4 hours |
Up to 3 days
|
| Methaqualone |
|
Up to 10 days |
| Opiates (Morphine & Heroin) |
2.5 hours |
2-3 days |
| Phencyclidine (PCP) |
4-6 hours |
7-14 days |
| Propoxyphene |
4-6 hours |
7-14 days |
| Cotinine (Nicotine) |
|
30 days or longer |
| Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA) |
4-6 hours |
up to 10 days |
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* These values are based on an average person. Some people may metabolize drugs at a different rate and, thus, have slightly different time frames as to how long the drug will stay in the body.
Factors which affect metabolism:
- amount and frequency of use
- the body's rate of metabolism
- your body mass (size)
- your age
- your tolerance to drugs or alcohol
- and your overall health
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Home Drug Testing Kit - Copyright 1999-2008© All rights reserved.
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