A common question among cocaine users and others who may be subject to drug testing is how long the drug stays detectable in the system. The short answer is that, generally, drug tests for cocaine can detect it:
- in blood for a few hours to a couple of days,
- in urine for up to 4 days (longer for regular users),
- in saliva for 2 to 3 days, and
- in hair follicles for 90 days or longer.
Understanding Cocaine and Its Effects
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that impacts the brain and central nervous system. It’s highly addictive and comes in two main forms:
- Powdered cocaine, which is usually snorted or dissolved in water and injected
- Crack cocaine, which is generally smoked
The effects of cocaine vary depending on the person, amount used, and the method of use.
Common short-term effects include:
- Increased alertness and energy
- Euphoria and a generally elevated mood
- Increased blood pressure and heart rate
- Constricted blood vessels
- Reduced appetite
- Higher body temperature
Long-term effects can be severe and include:
- Brain alterations–chronic use can lead to long-lasting changes in the function and structure of the brain, affecting the stress receptors, reward system, and cognitive abilities.
- Loss of gray matter–chronic use can cause a decrease in gray matter volume, especially in areas responsible for impulse control and decision-making.
- Liver damage–long-term use can damage the liver, resulting in inflammation (viral hepatitis), impaired liver function, and possibly acute liver failure.
- Cardiovascular issues–cocaine strains the heart and blood vessels. This increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and increases the risk of infectious diseases.
- Addiction–cocaine’s effects on the brain and various organs can have long-lasting consequences, leading to addiction.
- Nasal damage–when snorted, cocaine restricts blood flow to the nasal tissues, leading to tissue damage and death.
- Psychosis and paranoia–cocaine can produce psychiatric symptoms. The use of crack cocaine is associated with more frequent and intense symptoms.
- Weight loss and malnutrition–appetite suppressing effects and effects on the metabolism and digestive system can lead to substantial weight loss and severe malnutrition.
How Cocaine Affects the Brain
Cocaine primarily affects the brain’s reward pathway by significantly elevating dopamine levels. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter crucial for feelings of reward and pleasure, is dramatically increased. This sudden rise produces the powerful euphoria and energy users experience. The intense dopamine rush amplifies the craving for repetition, thus solidifying the addiction cycle.
However, cocaine disrupts the brain’s usual functions, impacting neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine in addition to its primary target. This interference leads to heightened energy, alertness, and sensitivity.
How the Body Processes Cocaine
As mentioned, cocaine can be consumed in several ways, such as injecting, snorting, smoking, or rubbing it on the gums. Once consumed, it enters the bloodstream and quickly travels throughout the body, including the brain, where it produces its euphoric effects. The body then processes the drug through a process called metabolism, mostly in the liver.
The liver plays an important role in breaking down cocaine. Enzymes metabolize cocaine into several inactive metabolites. Cocaine and its metabolites are eliminated from the body through the kidneys and excreted in the feces, urine, and sweat.
Cocaine Metabolites: What Are They and Why Do They Matter?
The liver is the organ primarily responsible for metabolizing cocaine. Enzymes in the liver break down the cocaine into inactive metabolites. Benzoylecgonine is the main metabolite produced. It is often tested for in drug screening because of its longer half-life compared to cocaine itself. Other metabolites are also formed.
How long cocaine stays in your system and causes effects is also different from the length of time it will be detectable on a drug test. That’s because drug tests look for the cocaine metabolites that are produced when cocaine is broken down. The person might not feel high, but they can still test positive on a drug test because of these metabolites.
Factors That Influence How Long Cocaine Stays in Your System
- Individual metabolism: Users with faster metabolisms may process cocaine more quickly.
- Frequency of use and dosage: Higher doses and more frequent use cause a longer detection window.
- Method of use: Although the speed of attaining the “high” is influenced by the method of use, the rate of elimination from the body is relatively similar regardless of how it is taken.
- Presence of alcohol: Using cocaine with alcohol creates a more toxic metabolite called cocaethylene, which increases the toxic effects and may remain in the system longer.
Detection Windows for Cocaine in the Body
Cocaine has a short, 1-hour half-life. That means that within an hour of using a dose, the body will have metabolized about half of the original dose. Within a few days, the body will metabolize all of it.
However, the exact time it takes depends on several factors. These factors are:
- The size of the dose
- The speed of the person’s metabolism
- Whether the person is a frequent user
- The way it’s used– topical cocaine has a shorter half-life than other methods, such as snorting.
Urine tests test for cocaine or its metabolite. It can directly test for cocaine within 1 to 5 hours, but it will detect cocaine metabolites for 2 to 4 days. Large doses, prolonged use, and very pure cocaine have a slightly longer detection period.
Blood cocaine tests look for cocaine or its metabolite in the blood plasma. It’s only useful for detecting recent use due to its short detection period of 2 to 12 hours. Typically, doctors will use blood tests in emergencies.
Saliva tests can measure the presence of cocaine for 1 to 36 hours after the last use. The quantity and purity of the cocaine, along with the person’s metabolism, determine how long it’s present in the system. Individuals who use repeated doses may take longer to metabolize it.
Hair tests have the longest detection period. It begins at 7 to 10 days from use and lasts for at least 3 months. A study in 2022 reports that cocaine may be detected in the hair 6 months after use. But hair testing has some reliability issues. It might not detect low-level use, such as a one-time use of cocaine.
People who cut their hair can also have a shorter positive testing window because they may cut out the portions of the hair that could test positive. Also, it’s possible for the hair to contain traces of cocaine if the substance touches the hair. This means that a person might test positive even if they don’t use cocaine themselves.
Yes. the frequency and duration of cocaine use significantly affects how long it’s detectable in the body. Chronic or long-term users willl have longer detection windows compared to short-term or occasional users. This is because repeated use can lead to an accumulation of cocaine’s metabolites in the body, extending the time for elimination.
For chronic users, metabolites can be detectable for up to 10 days (or longer) in urine. Because hair tests have a longer detection period, this method is helpful for detecting patterns of chronic use. Both blood and saliva have shorter detection windows, but some sources report that saliva tests may detect cocaine for up to a week in heavy users.
Can You Speed Up the Elimination of Cocaine from Your Body?
All drugs are eliminated from the body eventually. Most drugs are illiminated by the kidneys in urine. However, if the kidney and liver function have declined through cocaine abuse, it may affect the elimination process.
You can speed up the elimination of cocaine through a medical rapid detox. A medical detox can help you safely manage withdrawal symptoms, address the psychological elements of cocaine abuse, and receive emotional and medical support while detoxing.
Health Risks of Cocaine Accumulation in the System
Cocaine and its metabolites can accumulate in your body, especially with chronic and heavy use. The more frequently and heavily cocaine is used, the higher accumulation of these metabolites, leading to longer detection times and an impact on various bodily functions. Although the body can effectively eliminate cocaine, continued frequent use can lead to addiction and long-term brain chemistry changes. Consistent use reduces the amount of oxygen the brain receives, which can cause brain damage and increase the risk of aneurysms.
Cocaine can also reduce the blood flow to the stomace and intestines. This may lead to tears and ulcers, and increase the risk of ischemic colitis. Chronic use can cause muscle fibers in the kidneys and liver to die, spilling the contents into the bloodstream. This can lead to muscle damage and severe kidney complications and liver damage.
Drug Testing for Cocaine: What to Expect
Testing for cocaine has other names, such as, cocaine screen, tox screen, cocaine drug test. It can be done on your saliva, urine, blood, hair, or sweat. Rapid screening tests can be done in a clinic or office and the results can be obtained in minutes.
Depending on your age, gender, health history, and the lab used, the test results may vary. Cocaine screen results are usually reported as positive, meaning cocaine or its metabolites were found, or negative, meaning no evidence was found.
The test is done by either urinating in a cup or having saliva taken from your mouth. Urine is the most common test used. If you provide a urine sample, it may be tested immediately and the result will be available in minutes. If it’s positive, a sample should be sent to a lab for confirmation because rapid tests aren’t as accurate as lab tests.
When to Seek Help for Cocaine Use or Dependence
Drug addiction can begin with experimental use of a recreational drug in social gatherings. And, for some people, it becomes more frequent. The risk of addiction and how fast you become addicted varies by the drug.
As time goes by, if you need larger doses of cocaine to get high, or your use increases, you may find it’s getting more difficult to go without it. Attempts to stop may cause withdrawal symptoms. Your cocaine use has become dependence, and soon it will be an addiction.
You need an organized treatment program to overcome your addiction as soon as possible. Treatment including evidence-based behavioral therapy and group support in a professional setting is effective for cocaine addiction treatment.
Treatment at Longleaf Recovery
Treatment for cocaine addiction can be effective and it is available in Alabama at Longleaf Recovery and Wellness. Our addiction specialists will give you a thorough evaluation and design a treatment program that meets your specific needs, in a location that is best for you. In addition, we offer several levels of outpatient care, from an intensive partial hospitalization program to standard outpatient treatment, an excellent choice for aftercare to continue your recovery process.
Sadly, many people struggling with addiction also suffer from a co-occurring mental illness. This is called a dual diagnosis and both conditions need to be treated simultaneously. We can provide a special program to address this issue. You don’t have to struggle with the stigma and all the horrible consequences associated with drug use. Now is the time to get back on the right path to recovery by contacting us today.
