How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?
Are you wondering how long cocaine stays in your system? You may have a drug screening for work or school. You may be exploring recovery from cocaine addiction.
Cocaine speeds up the messages sent between the brain and body, increasing alertness and energy. Because cocaine’s desired euphoric effects are short-lived, lasting as little as 5-10 minutes, the length of time it’s actually in the body may be surprising.
Cocaine, or “coke,” is typically ingested as a fine, white powder snorted through the nose. Cocaine is a Schedule II controlled substance, meaning it has a high potential for abuse despite being used for legitimate medical uses—people like cocaine for its stimulating effects and the almost-instant euphoric “high” associated with it.
Keep reading to learn about how long it takes for cocaine to work its way through your body and how different tests detect cocaine in the system. You will also learn about what factors influence the metabolism of cocaine.
What Affects Cocaine Metabolism Rates
Cocaine metabolism rates can vary widely between individuals due to several factors. Understanding these factors can help know how long cocaine stays in your system and is critical in clinical settings, such as in cases of overdose or addiction treatment. Primary considerations for how quickly cocaine metabolizes include:
- How cocaine is ingested
- Dosage consumed
- Frequency of use
- Age
- Gender
- Body composition
- Health and hydration levels
- Use of other drugs at the same time
How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?
The detection window for cocaine varies depending on the type of test administered. Drug tests happen for various reasons, such as when applying for jobs or regaining legal or parental rights. When cocaine is ingested, the body begins to metabolize (break down) the substance. Metabolites are the end product of this process and are measured during drug testing.
- How long does cocaine stay in urine? 2-4 days
- How long does cocaine stay in the blood? 12-48 hours
- How long does cocaine stay in saliva? 1-2 days
- How long does cocaine stay in hair? Up to 90 days
Do Different Ingestion Methods Affect How Long Cocaine is Found in Your Body?
Cocaine ingestion methods impact how quickly the effects begin and how long they last; however, the drug clears the body at a similar rate across ingestion methods. Snorting, smoking, injecting, and oral intake all result in at least a couple of days of the substance being in your system.
Factors Influencing Detection Times
- Frequency of Use – Chronic or heavy users may have longer detection windows due to accumulation in the body.
- Metabolic Rate – Individual differences in metabolism can affect how quickly cocaine is processed and eliminated.
- Hydration and Health – Adequate hydration and overall health can influence excretion rates.
- Purity of Cocaine – Impurities can affect metabolism and detection times. Cocaine could be “cut” with another substance, such as baking soda, to extend the product amount.
How Long Do the Effects of Cocaine Last?
The intensity and immediacy of the effects differ depending on how the cocaine is consumed. When a person uses cocaine, they feel an intense initial rush followed by a high that lasts a few minutes. They feel alert and energized. After the high has worn off, the person usually feels a “crash,” involving extreme fatigue and irritability lasting up to a few days.
The effects of cocaine can also vary depending on the amount used and the individual’s physiology and tolerance.
- Snorting – When a person snorts cocaine, the effects begin immediately and can last anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes.
- Smoking (crack cocaine) – When a person smokes cocaine, the effects begin within seconds, but they are short-lived, typically lasting about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Injecting – When cocaine is injected, the effects are also almost immediate, felt within seconds, and last around 15 to 30 minutes.
- Oral ingestion – When someone takes cocaine orally, the onset of effects is slower, usually felt within 10 to 30 minutes, and can last up to 60 minutes or more.
Effect of Mixing Cocaine with Other Drugs
Mixing cocaine with other drugs can significantly alter its effects and amplify the risks associated with each substance. Combining drugs increases the unpredictability of effects, considerably raising the risk of overdose.
Here’s a look at some common combinations and their impacts:
Cocaine and Alcohol
Combining cocaine with alcohol results in more prolonged and toxic effects than cocaine alone. This combination involves an increased risk of health concerns and a higher potential for violent behaviors and risk-taking activities.
Cocaine and Opioids (Speedball)
A speedball combines the stimulant effects of cocaine with the depressant effects of opioids like heroin or morphine. The effect is an intense high with a significantly increased risk of overdose. Cocaine increases heart rate and blood pressure, while opioids can slow breathing to dangerous levels, sometimes resulting in fatal respiratory depression.
Cocaine and Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines (medications such as Valium, Xanax, or Ativan) are sedatives that can counteract the jitteriness or anxiety caused by cocaine. This combination can mask the effects of cocaine, leading users to consume higher and more dangerous amounts—increased risk of respiratory depression, cognitive impairment, and overdose.
Cocaine and Amphetamines
Both substances are potent stimulants, leading to a significantly enhanced and prolonged stimulant effect. This combination introduces an extremely high risk of heart problems and severe anxiety or paranoia.
Cocaine and Cannabis
People sometimes use cannabis to mitigate the anxiety or paranoia induced by cocaine, leading to a more relaxed but still stimulated state. The combination of these two substances can impair judgment and coordination more than either drug alone. The potential for increased heart rate and anxiety rises when taking these substances together.
Cocaine Addiction Treatment
Regular use of cocaine can lead to tolerance, meaning higher doses are needed to achieve the same effects. Chronic use can result in long-term changes in brain chemistry, leading to addiction and various health problems.
If you or a loved one is ready to take steps toward recovery from cocaine addiction, contact us at Vogue Recovery Center today. We can help you seek the care most appropriate for your needs and circumstances and begin to rebuild a healthy foundation for lasting recovery.
Medically Reviewed by Kelsey Jones, MS, LPC
