Home/Resources/How long does morphine stay in your system?

Substance guides

How long does morphine stay in your system?

Published June 8, 2025 · 7 min read · Updated April 2026
Reviewed for accuracy by licensed clinical professionals.

Morphine has a half-life of 2-4 hours but its metabolites remain detectable longer. Morphine is also the metabolite of heroin and codeine, creating testing complexities.

Detection by test type

Urine: 2-3 days. Morphine is the primary analyte on standard opioid panels. Blood: 12-24 hours. Saliva: 1-2 days. Hair: up to 90 days.

Testing complexities

Morphine appears on drug tests from morphine use, heroin use (heroin metabolizes to morphine), and codeine use (codeine metabolizes to morphine). Confirmatory testing including 6-MAM and codeine ratios helps determine the source.

Poppy seed warning

Consuming large amounts of poppy seeds can produce a positive morphine test at standard cutoffs. The federal workplace cutoff was raised to 2000 ng/mL specifically to reduce poppy seed false positives.

Authoritative sources

This article references guidelines from: SAMHSA · NIDA · ASAM

Frequently asked questions

How long does morphine stay in urine?
2-3 days for standard dosing.
Can poppy seeds cause a positive morphine test?
Yes. Large amounts of poppy seeds can produce a positive result, though raised cutoff levels have reduced this issue.
Does heroin show as morphine on a drug test?
Yes. Heroin metabolizes to morphine. Specialized 6-MAM testing confirms heroin specifically.

Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. SAMHSA: 1-800-662-4357.

Related articles

How long does Valium stay in your system?How long does kratom stay in your system?How long does hydrocodone stay in your system?How long does Adderall stay in your system?