Drug testing is becoming widespread in the United States. Whether it’s a workplace or child custody case, you need to pass a drug test to prove that you do not abuse illegal substances. Not just that, there could be a host of other reasons why one need to perform a cocaine drug test and get a negative result. However, you need to first learn ‘How long does cocaine stay in your system’ to test negative.
Surfing the internet might not get you all your answers. Lucky you, we have compiled all the queries in a single piece regarding cocaine and its testing. For instance, ‘how long does cocaine stay in hair, how to pass drug test cocaine or how long is cocaine detectable in urine’.
So without any further delay, let’s jump into all those details.
Fast Facts about cocaine
Before we dive deeper to seek the answer to ‘how long does cocaine stay in your system’, here are some fast facts about cocaine that might surprise you a bit.
- Cocaine is a party drug: A big chunk of people use cocaine for the first time in social gatherings. The drug has been widely used in such places as it makes a person feel confident, euphoric and social. Its chemical effects on the brain fasten the thought process and make a person more gossipy.
- Cocaine is highly addictive: Cocaine is a highly addictive drug thereby, its overdose can lead to severe health complications. Moreover, the addictive potential also depends on the mode of ingestion.
- Cocaine’s scientific name: The stimulant drug is scientifically called ‘benzoylmethylecgonine’
- Street names for cocaine: blow, yayo, snow, coke and 8-ball are the street names for cocaine.
- Cocaine side effects: Hair loss, weight loss, loss of appetite, agitation, sexual impotence, and reproductive damage are a few of so many side effects of cocaine—additionally, excessive cocaine use damages sperms, leading to several disorders in newborns.
- Cocaine is extremely expensive: According to the latest updates, cocaine costs around $25 to $200 per gram.
- Cocaine is fast-acting: cocaine directly triggers your nervous system and instantly produces a short and intense feeling of euphoria and happiness. However, the more you consume it, the shorter the duration gets.
What is cocaine?
Made from the coca plant, cocaine is a highly powerful, addictive and class A drug. It is typically bought illegally, as its use is strictly forbidden in the United States. That being said, most individuals get it easily from street dealers and binge on it. The more you use it, the more you crave it. It comes with different names and in various forms like Coke, Rock, Snow, Blow, and Crack. It’s most common form is a white powder, while some use it in the form of a solid rock crystal.
How is it consumed?
Typically, people use the drug by smoking, snorting, or rubbing it onto their gums. Other uses include dissolving it in water or injecting it into the body with a syringe. In the rock crystal form, it is first heated up and then consumed as smoke.
How it works?
The drug triggers dopamine release in your body, a natural body chemical that controls feelings of pleasure. Consuming it kicks intense feelings of power, energy, and alertness. It has other short term effects like:
- Extremely sensitive to sound, touch, and sight.
- Intense happiness
- Anger issues
- Paranoia
- Reduced appetite
- Mood swings
Frequent use of cocaine can lead to severe health complications like
- Headaches
- Heart diseases
- Convulsions and seizures
- Sexual trouble
- Lung damage
- Hepatitis or HIV if you take it using a syringe
- Nose bleed, loss of smell, and difficulty swallowing.
how long does cocaine stay in your system?
While it highly depends on the usage of the drug, it stays for 3 days in a normal body. The timeline for its detection ranges from three days or more, depending on the type of drug test you are taking.
Surprisingly, unlike other drugs, cocaine can remain in a person’s body for several weeks or months, but again it depends on the mode of ingestion and drug test. Now let’s have a look at some cocaine testing methods and determine the detection time window in each.
Hair strand test – how long does cocaine stay in hair
A hair strand test is the best solution to determine if someone is a regular user of cocaine, as it can determine the drug’s presence for up to months and years. While in an average person, it can determine the drug’s presence for as early as 3 months. Despite its legit results, the hair strand test for cocaine is the least used method.
Saliva Test – How long does cocaine stay in Your Saliva?
Saliva tests for cocaine typically determine the recent usage of the drug as it can stay in your mouth for up to 2 days. There are especially tools that come for Saliva testing, especially via which it is transferred to a test tube for lab testing.
Urine Test – How long does cocaine stay in your Urine?
People often ask how long is cocaine detectable in urine. So here is the answer; on average, cocaine can stay in your urine for 3 days after the recent use. However, the case is different for regular users as it can stay in their urine for as long as two weeks. By far, urine screening is the most common and also an accurate method for cocaine testing at various places.
Blood Test – How long does cocaine stay in your Blood?
Cocaine is likely to be detectable for 12 hours to 2 days via blood testing. However, blood tests typically take place in hospital-type settings.
What factors affect cocaine detection time?
Generally, cocaine can be detectable in a time window of 2 to 10 days as stated by the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA). However, since it is a general time frame, it can be affected by the following factors:
Test Type
Cocaine tests use metabolites (by-products) to detect the presence of the substance in a body. Since some metabolites stay in your system for longer, it can affect the test results. So yes, the test type or the metabolites samples being used for the test can affect the final test results that show for how long the drug stayed in your body.
Drug Usage
Obviously, drug usage had to make it to this list since drug test results can influence drug usage. The more you use it, the longer it will stay in your body.
Frequency
In the case of cocaine, the more frequent you use it, the wider the detection window.
Consumption Method
Cocaine that is gummed or snorted tends to stay in your system for longer hours than other consumption methods like injection or smoking.
The purity level
Cocaine that is not pure and contains contaminants can affect its time period to stay in your system.
Your body composition
Benzoylecgonine is the main byproduct of cocaine that is usually screened for in cocaine testing. It is stored in fatty tissues of your body, which means the more your body is rich in fat, the more cocaine metabolites will accumulate in it.
Alcohol consumption
When alcohol is combined with cocaine, it can make certain cocaine metabolites stay in the body for longer.
As stated above, we often unknowingly make the cocaine metabolites stay in our bodies for longer and then face the consequences after the test results. Due to such reasons, people often ask, ‘how long does cocaine stay in your system’.
Can we get cocaine out of our system quicker?
While the internet is exploding with remedies claiming to get cocaine out of your system fast, none are scientifically proven. Drinking more water can help excrete cocaine metabolites from your body, but it won’t guarantee a negative cocaine test result.
Note: Chugging water can lead to other health complications like water intoxication.
Another most asked question is, ‘can I pass a drug test for coke in 2 days?’ Well, according to a research study, two herbal products, Naturally Klean Herbal Tea and GoldenSeal root have proven to be effective in giving a negative cocaine test. However, they need to be used in a fixed set of conditions for guaranteed results as stated in the article. However, it is still unclear whether it takes two or fewer hours to pass the drug test.
How to recognize if you have overdosed on cocaine?
A cocaine overdose can be life-threatening. Apart from the toll it takes on your overall health and relationships, it can lead to a disastrous impact on your life. Following are the warning signs that you must be watchful for if you consume cocaine.
Cocaine overdose Symptoms
- Extreme agitation and anxiety
- High blood pressure
- High body temperature and sweating
- Hallucinations
Severe Side effects
- Heart stroke
- Irregular heart rhythm
- Seizures
- Difficulty breathing
If you think you have been overdosing on cocaine and feel any of the above-stated symptoms, dial 911 instantly to get help.
How does Cocaine affect pregnancy and breastfeeding women?
If you use cocaine during pregnancy or breastfeeding, it is important to learn how it can affect you and your fetus/child.
Effect of Pregnancy
Women who use cocaine during pregnancy must be aware that cocaine does reach the fetus. It could transfer through the placenta and can lead to miscarriage and placental disruption.
In some cases, it can cause premature delivery of the child. Additionally, some studies proved that frequent use of cocaine during pregnancy could cause:
- Low body weight during birth
- Smaller body and head circumference
- Behavioural and cognitive issues later in life.
Most of the research done on cocaine use and side effects is based on prolonged consumption of the drug. Women who used it once or twice before getting pregnant might not face lower to no complications.
Also, not to forget these researches were conducted on women living in socioeconomic classes. Since people of such classes deal with their own set of environmental issues, the direct impact of cocaine on a fetus is still unknown.
However, that doesn’t mean cocaine intake is not harmful. Only the risks specifically associated with it are difficult to put apart.
Effect on Breastfeeding
Unfortunately, cocaine can enter the breastmilk quickly. If you ask ‘how long does cocaine stay in your system’, being a breastfeeding mother, we are afraid there is no exact answer to that as it highly depends on several other factors like body fat, frequency, usage methods, etc.
However, studies suggest that if you have recently taken cocaine, wait for a minimum of 24 hours before breastfeeding your child.
Note: if you are a breastfeeding mother and have recently used cocaine, it’s better to consult a healthcare professional.
How to cope with withdrawal?
Whether it’s for drug tests or any other purpose, if you are concerned about the substance being in your system, it’s better to stop using it on an immediate basis. However, doing so will likely make you experience some harsh withdrawal symptoms like.
- Trouble sleeping
- Irritability
- Depression symptoms
- Anxiety symptoms
- Concentration issues
- Appetite changes
- Restlessness
- Vivid dreams
- lethargy
While the time period for such symptoms is not specific, you may experience them for a few hours or days, depending on the last dose. The withdrawal symptoms completely wear off in several days. However, some people have reportedly experienced persisting symptoms for a long time.
Even though cocaine withdrawal is not easy, you can definitely try it at home. In the following, we have mentioned some techniques that will help you through the process for sure.
- Eat healthy regularly: Since cocaine tends to affect your appetite, you should be careful that you eat regularly. If possible, consume as much as whole-grain foods, veggies, and fruits.
- Stay Hydrated: stay hydrated as much as possible. Also, you can consume juices, soups, drinks, etc. to keep yourself hydrated.
- Take proper rest: Keep your schedule light and rest whenever possible.
- Get some fresh air: If you feel down for it, go for a walk in a park or a sunny place, sit around for a while, and breathe fresh air.
- Take out time for fun activities: if you feel uneasy but don’t feel like doing anything, go for mindless activities. They will surely help. You can try starting a TV show series or movie, doing a puzzle, or calling a friend.
Cocaine withdrawal can be managed at home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reach out for outside help. You can try primary healthcare professionals in this regard. They can prescribe you some medicines to help you deal with the withdrawal process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Following, we have listed some other popular queries related to cocaine. Check them out as you may find them helpful.
How do you define cocaine?
Cocaine is a ‘bitter crystalline alkaloid’ that is obtained from the coca plant. Coca leaves are used for medical purposes, for instance, it is given to the patients as tropical anesthesia before surgeries. However, its euphoric effects can lead to addiction.
What country uses cocaine the most?
While cocaine usage is widespread around the globe, if we have to name one country, it would be Australia. The country has the highest rate of cocaine consumption in the world.
How much cocaine is being used in Australia?
As per the data received from the sources, the country consumes around 5.6 tons of cocaine per year.
What is the drug capital of the World?
Scotland is the drug capital of the world as what the internet says. Its drug death capital rate is 23 per every 100,000 people.
What was the widely used drug in 2021?
According to the 2021 Global Drug Survey estimates, Cannabis was the most used drug in that year.
What is the drug capital of the US?
Omaha had the biggest chunk percentage in the county. After that comes Mesa, AZ, and Tulsa. While as per the usage stats, cocaine is the second most used drug in the United States. AZ and Phoenix have the highest drug usage in the country.
What is the largest drug producer country in the world?
Afghanistan is the largest drug producer country. Not only does it export an abundance of drugs, but it is also one of the biggest consumers. The country met 7% of the total drug demand in 2008 and accounted for a total of 85% of global drug production in 2020.
Takeaway
Unlike other drugs, cocaine metabolizes faster. However, it’s difficult to determine the exact time it stays in your system as there are several factors like Age, Gender, BMI, genetics, frequency, and body hydration levels, affecting it.
Apart from the physical damage that it causes, it can affect your personal and professional relationships, career, job, finances, and even freedom. Fortunately, addiction is a treatable condition and via the help of healthcare professionals, the process can get much easier.
You can reach out for professional help if you feel comfortable by contacting SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 800-662-HELP (4357).
