How Long Does Cocaine Stay In Your System?

Cocaine can stay in a person’s system for a few days, but it can be detected for up to multiple months, depending on the type of testing that’s conducted.

People who worry about testing positive for cocaine use might consider learning about the adverse effects of its usage and seek treatment as soon as possible.

What Is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a potent, addictive drug that gives a massive surge of dopamine, resulting in euphoric effects and intensely heightened energy levels.

The drug is derived from coca leaves native to South America. It has been used for a long time by mixing it with brewed tea. However, the cocaine that is often used today illicitly is purified.

The common forms of purified cocaine are white powders and solid crystal rocks (crack cocaine). The former is consumed nasally, while the latter is smoked.

How Long Before The Effects Of Cocaine Wear Off?

The duration of cocaine’s effect depends on the method of its ingestion.

When cocaine is snorted or gummed, the effect lasts around 15 to 30 minutes. However, if cocaine were smoked or injected, the impact would last around 10 to 20 minutes.

Aside from the method of ingestion, cocaine tolerance and how the body metabolises the drug are also impactful. Tolerance refers to the brain adjusting to the effects of cocaine, requiring the individual to take a higher dosage just to get the same effects as before.

Moreover, there are slight variations in how people’s bodies process cocaine. That can also impact the duration of cocaine’s effects.

How Long Does Cocaine Stay In Your System?

How long cocaine stays in the body depends on how cocaine is metabolised . The remains of the drug can be detected in the blood, urine, saliva, hair, and breast milk, each having a different window of time.

Blood

Cocaine can be detected through blood tests for around two days. The drug quickly enters the bloodstream within minutes after the drug use. However, the detection of the blood is relatively short.

Blood tests for cocaine do not tell the impairment of cocaine or recent usage. The effects may have already subsided at the time of testing.

Urine

Cocaine can be detected for up to four days or more, depending on how heavy the usage is or for how long. Urine tests are the most commonly used approach to cocaine detection in someone’s system. The drug can be uncovered in pee for longer when compared to blood testing.

Saliva

Cocaine and its metabolites can be detected in the saliva within minutes of use, extending to three days. It has a relatively shorter window compared to other methods of detection.

Hair

Hair testing can be used to detect chronic cocaine use. The drug can be detected in the follicles for up to 90 days, sometimes longer, depending on the collected sample length. 

This detection method does not tell when the drug was used or how often the individual uses it.

Breastmilk

Although breastmilk is not often used to test cocaine abuse, the drug can still get into it for up to three days. This mechanism poses a risk to a child who’s consuming it. 

Even though the child does not get high as its nervous system is still immature, it can still lead to severe problems with their development. Pregnant cocaine users are required to seek help immediately to avoid the risks involved in breastfeeding.

What Is Cocaine Half-Life?

On average, the drug’s half-life on blood is 1.5 hours, 1.2 for saliva, and 4.1 for urine, which is relatively shorter compared to other drugs.

Cocaine half-life refers to the time when half of the active drug leaves the body. This information is essential to know, as the shorter the half-life is, the more problematic the withdrawal symptoms are. 

Given that cocaine has a shorter half-life, withdrawal symptoms for cocaine tend to also be more problematic compared to other drugs.

What Can Affect The Detection Time?

The factors that affect the detection time of cocaine include the test type, how much cocaine the individual uses, how often, the method of ingestion, purity level, the body’s metabolism, and whether cocaine and alcohol are present or not.

Some types of tests can only detect cocaine for a few days after the cocaine was used. However, there is also a test (hair sampling) where the drug can be detected months after the last usage.

The amount of cocaine and its chronic usage can also affect the duration window of detecting cocaine. Moreover, the purity level of cocaine – if more potent – can make the drug stay in the individual’s system for longer.

Lastly, cocaine may stay longer depending on how the person’s body composition processes the drug. This mechanism can alter the window of detection.

What A Cocaine Drug Test Involves

Cocaine drug tests are designed to detect cocaine in a person’s system to determine whether the person has abused cocaine in the past. The tests can sample the individual’s urine, blood, saliva, or hair follicles.

Although the tests aim to detect cocaine, it doesn’t have to discover the exact drug in the person’s system. They can also look for metabolites, which are substances that are formed in the body to process cocaine. The exact two metabolites for processing cocaine are benzoylecgonine and ecgonine methyl.

Even if cocaine has left the person’s body, metabolites can act as evidence that the presence of cocaine has existed in the past few days or months. 

When Can A Cocaine Detection Drug Test Be Requested?

Knowing whether someone has abused cocaine can assist professionals in helping you with your problems. It’s common for medical personnel to request drug tests if the patient has been showing signs of drug abuse. Having this knowledge allows them to tailor their approach to treating their patient.

Moreover, employers who have a solid no-drug policy for their workplace can also request drug tests. They will do so to determine whether their applicant fits their values.

It’s important to note that an individual can refuse the employer’s request for drug testing if it is not a condition of employment. However, if the employee, before onboarding, has agreed to the terms and conditions of the no-drug policy, then the employer has a strong case against the worker as it breaches the contract and would raise suspicion for refusing a reasonable, lawful request.

Insurance companies do the same thing as well, especially when giving out insurance plans that have drugs related to them.

What Happens If Tested Positive For Cocaine?

If someone has tested positive for cocaine use, it’s common to redo the test again to rule out the possibility of false positives. Some medications can result in this false positive, such as medication for ADHD, depression, anxiety, pain medication, sleeping pills, and HIV medications.

However, if another test has been conducted and false positives have been ruled out, the court might summon the individual. Generally speaking, using cocaine has a lighter penalty when compared to manufacturing or selling it. However, the specific laws, fines, and imprisonment have some variations among different states of Australia. Each area has its standards, and it is good for you to be advised on what is being enforced.

Furthermore, it’s also a good idea to contact your lawyer to protect your rights.

Where To Get Help For Cocaine Addiction Treatment

Addiction rehab centres are the perfect places for people who are ready to quit cocaine. They offer evidence-based intervention and psychotherapy that are proven to help people quit cocaine for good.

If you’re looking for addiction treatment abroad, Sivana Bali, situated in Bali, Indonesia, is an excellent choice. We are a luxury rehab centre that focuses on personalised treatment for cocaine while maintaining a high-end experience of recovery.