How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System? Blood, Urine, and Saliva Tests

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System? The detection window for cocaine depends on various factors, including the type of drug test used, your metabolism, frequency of use, and individual factors. Whether you’re concerned about a drug test or want to understand the potential health effects, we’ll explore the timelines for cocaine detection in urine, blood, saliva, and hair.


How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug that can be addictive. It causes an intense but brief high, so people who abuse cocaine use it regularly to keep feeling the effects. However, as their tolerance grows, they may develop a dependency on the drug.

If you or someone you know is struggling with cocaine addiction, you may wonder how long cocaine stays in your system. The answer depends on several factors, including the type of test used and how much cocaine was used. However, in general, cocaine can be detected in urine for up to 3 days, in blood for up to 12 hours, and in hair for up to 90 days.

If you are concerned about cocaine use, resources are available to help you. We Level Up offers cocaine addiction rehab programs to help you overcome your addiction and live a healthy, sober life.

What is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a powerful drug that affects the central nervous system and makes you more alert. It comes from the coca plant and is on Schedule II of the list of controlled substances because it is likely to be abused and lead to addiction. Cocaine is usually sold as a white powder, often mixed with other things. As crack cocaine, it can be sniffed, injected, or smoked.

When you take cocaine, you feel euphoric quickly and intensely, and your energy, alertness, and confidence go up. But these effects don’t last long; they only last for a short time. As the effects of the drug wear off, people may have a “crash” in which they feel tired and sad and have strong cravings for more cocaine.

Even though cocaine may feel good initially, it can seriously affect your physical and mental health. Long-term or heavy use can lead to addiction, heart problems, breathing problems, problems with the nervous system, and damage to organs like the heart and kidneys. Cocaine use is also against the law in most countries, and if you are caught with it or selling it, you could go to jail.

What Factors Affect How Long Cocaine Stays in Your System?

How long does crack cocaine stay in your system? It depends on several things. The length of time can be different for each person based on the following:

  • How often and how much cocaine is used: The longer it takes for the body to get rid of the drug, the more often and how much cocaine is used.
  • Method of use: The time it takes for cocaine to leave the body depends on how it is taken. For example, if someone uses drugs intravenously instead of snorting or smoking, the time it takes to find them may be shorter.
  • Metabolism: Every person’s metabolism is different, and it plays a big role in how quickly the body breaks down and gets rid of things. People whose metabolisms work faster may get rid of cocaine faster.
  • Body composition: Things like weight, body fat percentage, and overall health can affect how drugs are broken down and eliminated. People with more body fat may be able to keep cocaine longer.
  • Overall health: How well the liver and kidneys, which help break down drugs, work can affect how quickly cocaine is broken down and passed out of the body.
  • Levels of hydration: Getting enough water can help the body’s natural detoxification processes, which could make cocaine leave the body faster.

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System? Infographics

The detection window for cocaine can vary depending on the type of drug test used and individual factors. Here are approximate timeframes for the detection of cocaine in urine, blood, and saliva:

The detection window for cocaine can vary depending on the type of drug test used and individual factors. Here are approximate timeframes for the detection of cocaine in urine, blood, and saliva:

  • Urine: Cocaine can typically be detected in urine within 2 to 4 hours after use and for up to 3 days. In some cases, it may be detectable longer, especially with chronic or heavy use.
  • Blood: Cocaine can be detected in blood within seconds to minutes after use and for up to 1 to 2 days. The detection window can vary based on the amount used and individual metabolism.
  • Saliva: Cocaine can be detected in saliva within a few minutes after use and for up to 1 to 2 days. Saliva detection time is shorter than urine and blood, like other drugs.
How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System? The detection window for cocaine depends on various factors, including the type of drug test used, your metabolism, frequency of use, and individual factors. Whether you're concerned about a drug test or want to understand the potential health effects, we'll explore the timelines for cocaine detection in urine, blood, saliva, and hair.
How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System? The detection window for cocaine depends on various factors, including the type of drug test used, your metabolism, frequency of use, and individual factors. Whether you’re concerned about a drug test or want to understand the potential health effects, we’ll explore the timelines for cocaine detection in urine, blood, saliva, and hair.

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Cocaine Addiction Statistics

Since crack was first made, scientists and researchers have kept track of how it affects the health of Americans. Given how easy it is to get the drug and how often it is used, the public must know how bad the epidemic is. Here are some facts about crack dependency:


252

Is the average of people aged older than 12 using crack cocaine for the first time every day.

Source: SAMHSA

778,000

In 2019, 778,000 people aged 12 and older reported using crack cocaine in the past year.

Source: SAMHSA

16,000

In 2020, roughly 16,000 people died from a cocaine overdose.

Source: SAMHSA


Cocaine Drug Facts

Immediate Effects of Cocaine

Crack Cocaine, or Cocaine, also known as Coke, is an extremely fast-acting central nervous system stimulant that delivers an intense brief euphoric high. The effects of cocaine prevail for minutes to an hour, depending on how the drug is consumed.

The rate of onset of cocaine’s effects, and the entire duration of action, is affected by the method of consumption. Below are cocaine’s effects according to how the drug was used:

  • Snorting cocaine: Effects felt within 3-5 minutes and persist for up to 20 minutes.
  • Smoking cocaine: Effects felt within 5-10 seconds and persist for up to 20 minutes.
  • Intravenous Cocaine use: Effects felt within 5-10 seconds and persist for up to 20 minutes.
  • Oral ingestion: Effects felt within 10-30 minutes and persist for up to 90 minutes.

What is Crack Cocaine?

Crack cocaine is a highly addictive and powerful stimulant derived from powdered cocaine using a simple conversion process. Crack emerged as a drug of abuse in the mid-1980s. It is abused because it produces an immediate high and is easy and inexpensive, rendering it readily available and affordable.


How is Crack Cocaine Made?

Crack is produced by dissolving powdered cocaine in water, ammonia, or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). The mixture is boiled until a solid substance forms. The solid is removed from the liquid, dried, broken into chunks (rocks), and sold as crack cocaine.


What Does Cocaine Look Like?

Crack typically is available as rocks. Crack rocks are white (or off-white) and vary in size and shape.


How is Crack Abused?

Crack is nearly always smoked. What does crack cocaine smell like? Smoking crack cocaine delivers large quantities of the drug to the lungs, producing an immediate and intense euphoric effect.


How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your Urine? How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?

So how long does cocaine stay in your urine? The answer is longer than you may anticipate. Cocaine metabolites can still be detected in the urine for up to 12-14 days after use in chronic users, and heavy use can extend the detection window to up to 30 days. Factors like hydration levels and body mass also affect how long cocaine will stay in your system. In addition to urine testing, cocaine can be detected in blood, saliva, and hair samples.


Long-term Effects of Cocaine

The long-term effects of cocaine use include physical and mental health problems such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and cocaine addiction. Cocaine has a powerful effect on the brain’s reward system, making it extremely addictive for those who use it. Treatment for cocaine addiction may include counseling, medication, and lifestyle changes to help individuals cope with cravings and reduce their risk of relapse.

How is Crack Cocaine Abused?

Crack is nearly always smoked. Smoking crack cocaine delivers large quantities of the drug to the lungs, producing an immediate and intense euphoric effect.

Short-Term Effects of Cocaine

  • Extreme happiness and energy.
  • Mental alertness.
  • Hypersensitivity to sight, sound, and touch.
  • Irritability.
  • Paranoia—extreme and unreasonable distrust of others.

What Are The Risks?

Cocaine, in any form, is a powerfully addictive drug, and addiction seems to develop more quickly when the drug is smoked–as the crack is–than snorted–as powdered cocaine typically is.

In addition to the usual risks associated with cocaine use (constricted blood vessels; increased temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure; and risk of cardiac arrest and seizure), crack users may experience acute respiratory problems, including coughing, shortness of breath, and lung trauma and bleeding. Crack cocaine smoking also can cause aggressive and paranoid behavior.


Is Crack Cocaine Illegal?

Yes, crack cocaine is illegal. Crack cocaine is a Schedule II substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule II drugs, which include PCP and methamphetamine, have a high potential for abuse. Abuse of these drugs may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.


How Long Does Crack Cocaine Stay in Your System?

How long does cocaine stay in your system? The amount of time that crack cocaine stays in your system depends on various factors, including your metabolism, the amount used, and how often you’ve used it. Generally speaking, the drug can take 2-4 days to leave your system.

How long does cocaine stay in your system?

Typically, cocaine can be detected in a person’s urine for up to 2-4 days after the last use. However, it can sometimes be detected for up to 12 days in heavy, chronic users. Cocaine can be detected in blood for up to 24 hours and in saliva for up to 2 days after use. It’s important to note that these timeframes are just generalizations, and the actual detection window can vary depending on several factors.

Top How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System? FAQs

  1. How long does Coke stay in your system?

    So, how long does cocaine stay in your system? How long it takes for Coke to leave your body depends on many things, like how much you drink, how often you drink, your age, weight, and metabolism. In general, cocaine can be found in the average person’s urine for up to three days after use. But for heavy users, the detection window for “how long does coke stay in your system” can be up to a week or more.

  2. How long does cocaine stay in your system?

    Cocaine can stay in your system for different periods depending on the method of administration, frequency and amount of use, body metabolism, and several other factors. Typically, cocaine can be detected in a person’s urine for up to 2-4 days after the last use.

    However, it can sometimes be detected for up to 12 days in heavy, chronic users. Cocaine can be detected in blood for up to 24 hours and in saliva for up to 2 days after use. It’s important to note that these timeframes are just generalizations, and the actual detection window can vary depending on several factors.

Cocaine Effects, Method of Use & How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System Chart

Cocaine UseEffects of CocaineHow Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?
Sniffing/Snorting CocaineCocaine’s effects are felt in 3-5 minutes & last up to 20 minutesSnorting cocaine is detectable in urine for up to 2-4 days.
Smoking CocaineCocaine’s effects are felt in 5-10 seconds & last up to 20 minutesSmoking cocaine is detectable in urine for up to 2-8 days.
Shooting up CocaineCocaine’s effects are felt in 5-10 seconds & last up to 20 minutesCocaine injected intravenously is detectable in urine for 2-4 days.
Eating CocaineCocaine’s effects are felt in 10-30 minutes & last up to 90 minutesEating cocaine is detectable in urine for 2-5 days.
Use the Effects of Cocaine, How to Use Cocaine, and How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System Chart above to figure out how long cocaine stays in your system based on how you use the drug. Remember that the effects and drug test results of cocaine depend on several factors. Also, the amount of cocaine used, how often it is used, and the type of drug test can all affect how long it takes to find Coke in the system.
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What are the effects of cocaine in the short term?

The short-term effects of taking cocaine can differ for each person, depending on how much they take and how they take it. Here are some short-term effects of cocaine that often happen:

  • Cocaine stimulates the brain’s reward system, which makes people feel euphoric and gives them more energy. It also makes them more alert.
  • Heart rate and blood pressure go up. Cocaine speeds up the heart and raises blood pressure by stimulating the cardiovascular system. This can put stress on the heart and make it more likely that there will be problems with the heart.
  • Pupils that look bigger than usual: Cocaine can make the pupils dilate, which makes the pupils look bigger than usual.
  • Less hunger: Cocaine use can make you lose your appetite and not want to eat as much.
  • Increased sociability and talkativeness: Cocaine can make people more outgoing and talkative by making them feel more confident and boost their self-esteem.
  • Restlessness and agitation: As the stimulant effects of cocaine take hold, some users may feel restless, irritable, or even paranoid.
  • Blood vessels that narrow: Cocaine can cause blood vessels to narrow, reducing blood flow and possibly damaging tissues.
  • Sweating and a higher body temperature: Cocaine can make you sweat a lot and raise your body temperature, leading to overheating or hyperthermia if you’re not careful.
  • Cocaine can make it hard to focus, make good decisions, and judge risks correctly. It can also shorten the time you can pay attention to something.

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Does mixing alcohol with cocaine make it stay in your body longer?

Cocaine and alcohol together are bad ideas. When you use both simultaneously, your liver makes a new cocaethylene chemical. Cocaethylene stays in your body much longer than cocaine because its half-life in plasma is three to five times longer than that of cocaine. This can hurt the liver, cause seizures, and weaken the immune system.

When you take cocaine after drinking alcohol, the amount of cocaine in your blood can increase by up to 30%. This means it takes longer for your body to get rid of cocaine and can show up longer in drug tests. Mixing cocaine and alcohol can also make your heart beat faster and make you act more violently.

If you are considering alcohol or cocaine, please know the risks. Putting these two things together can be very dangerous, and the risks are not worth it. If you or someone you know is having trouble with drug use, please ask for help. There are a lot of things that can help you on your way to recovery.

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We Level Up CA Cocaine Addiction Treatment

Medically-Assisted Cocaine Detox Treatment for Withdrawal

Detox is just the first step in treating drug addiction. It will help with withdrawal symptoms, but it won’t change the deeper patterns of behavior that led to drug use. This is where treatment over time comes in. With the right help, you’ll have the tools you need to stay clean for good.

During detox, the strong cravings that often lead to relapse are among the hardest things to deal with. That’s why inpatient treatment can be so helpful—medical care is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and experts are on hand. You’ll have the tools to deal with your cravings and lessen the effects of withdrawal.

Psychotherapy 

Find out how to use psychotherapy to help with mental health and addiction. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Person-Centered Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy can help you change your life.

CBT is a way to help people with depression improve their daily lives by changing their negative thoughts and actions. DBT tries to help people who have problems with their mental health or with drugs have a “clear mind.” Person-Centered Therapy gives clients a safe and helpful place to talk about and solve their problems. Solution-focused therapy aims to get quick and sound results by taking a simple first step.

With these new kinds of therapy, you can build a life worth living and beat mental health and addiction problems.

When it comes to how long cocaine stays in the body, no matter what, people who have problems with cocaine addiction usually need the care and supervision of medical professionals.
When it comes to how long cocaine stays in the body, no matter what, people who have problems with cocaine addiction usually need the care and supervision of medical professionals.

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How Long Does Crack Cocaine Stay in Your System? Informational Video

The ability of cocaine to be detected in urine, blood, and saliva drug tests will vary depending on some variables. Cocaine and its metabolites typically remain detectable in the body for 3 to 4 days after the last use and up to 2 days after that in blood or saliva. However, the testing window for the cocaine metabolites that Urine cocaine drug tests can detect is up to 4 days.

The half-life of cocaine is the amount of time it takes for the body to eliminate half of a dose. Cocaine has a half-life of six hours in the urine or blood and one to one and a half months in hair, on average. The half-life of cocaine is shortened when it is smoked, slightly prolonged when injected, and longest when snorted. The metabolites of cocaine, however, have a longer half-life. The metabolite is a by-product of cocaine, and its half-life can double to 12 hours when testing for cocaine alone.

So, how long does cocaine stay in urine? Cocaine’s metabolites or byproducts determine how quickly it can be detected in typical urine tests. The most accurate estimation of recent cocaine use is provided by detecting these by-products. When cocaine is ingested, the body naturally produces metabolites as a breakdown product. Because they linger in the user’s system longer than cocaine, these metabolites are detected in drug tests to demonstrate recent cocaine usage, particularly in urine.

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Sources

[1] NIDA – https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/cocaine/what-are-some-ways-cocaine-changes-brain plus How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System and Urine? /How long do cocaine stay in your system

[2] How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Urine? – We Level Up NJ. How Long Does Cocaine Stay in your System? How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your Urine, Hair & Blood? Video

[3 National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2016). What are the short-term effects of cocaine use? How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System? /How long do cocaine stay in your system

[4] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (1999). Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders. How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System? /How long do cocaine stay in your system

[5] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2018). Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System? /How long do cocaine stay in your system

[6] Preston KL, Epstein DH, Cone EJ, Wtsadik AT, Huestis MA, Moolchan ET. Urinary elimination of cocaine metabolites in chronic cocaine users during cessation. J Anal Toxicol. 2002 Oct;26(7):393-400. doi: 10.1093/jat/26.7.393. PMID: 12422991. How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System? /How long do cocaine stay in your system

[7] National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). DrugFacts: Cocaine. How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System? /How long do cocaine stay in your system

[8] Redwood Toxicology Laboratory. (2014). Laboratory Testing Reference Guide. How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System? /How long do cocaine stay in your system

[9] Boston University School of Medicine. (2004). Glossary of Terms and Symbols Used in Pharmacology. How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?

[10] Richards JR, Laurin EG. (2022). Cocaine. StatPearls Publishing. How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?/ how long does cocaine stay in your system