Substance use: urine detection window of cannabis: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Substance use: urine detection window of cannabis

Sample item

A 28-year-old daily heavy cannabis user and a person who snorted cocaine at a party both stopped use 10 days ago, and both give urine samples. Which result is most likely?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Cannabis metabolite still positive, cocaine metabolite negative

Cocaine's metabolite benzoylecgonine is detectable for roughly two to four days, whereas THC metabolites from chronic heavy use can persist for weeks because they accumulate in fat. Detection windows guide interpretation of drug screens.

Option by option

  • A. Both samples positive

    Cocaine's metabolite has cleared by ten days.

  • B. Cannabis negative, cocaine positive

    Cocaine's metabolite clears within days, so a negative cocaine result with a positive cannabis result is expected, not the reverse.

  • C. Cannabis metabolite still positive, cocaine metabolite negative (correct)

    Correct. Chronic cannabis use leaves a long detection window and cocaine's is short.

  • D. Both samples negative

    A chronic heavy user is expected to still test positive after ten days.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is C, Cannabis metabolite still positive, cocaine metabolite negative. Cocaine's metabolite benzoylecgonine is detectable for roughly two to four days, whereas THC metabolites from chronic heavy use can persist for weeks because they accumulate in fat.

Why is "Both samples positive" not the answer?

Cocaine's metabolite has cleared by ten days.

Why is "Cannabis negative, cocaine positive" not the answer?

Cocaine's metabolite clears within days, so a negative cocaine result with a positive cannabis result is expected, not the reverse.

Why is "Both samples negative" not the answer?

A chronic heavy user is expected to still test positive after ten days.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Substance use: urine detection window of cannabis in Psychiatry. Detection windows guide interpretation of drug screens.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Substance use: urine detection window of cannabis?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.