Considered a schedule II drug, cocaine is a highly addictive illegal substance that leads to nearly 1.3 million Americans being diagnosed with cocaine use disorder.
Classified as a stimulant, cocaine causes short bursts of elation immediately after use. While the highs are short-lived, cocaine can stay in your system for days to months, depending on the testing method, the amount ingested, and your body’s metabolic reduction of the substance.
Even if you or a loved one has stopped using cocaine, it can appear in your system long after your last use, affecting aspects of your life such as work or health if testing is required.
The good news is that cocaine addiction does not have to last forever. In fact, once it’s entirely out of your system, you can work on restoring your overall physical and mental health with an addiction professional and lead a long-term life of sobriety.
If you or someone you know is struggling with cocaine use and addiction, we can help.
Don’t delay treatment or testing. Get the help you need now.
Let’s dive into understanding cocaine use in further detail, including answering the popular question, “How long does cocaine stay in your system?”
First, What Is Cocaine?
Cocaine is an amphetamine that directly affects the central nervous system with addictive properties.
It is classified as a stimulant because it can increase and intensify feelings of pleasure, energy, and alertness.
Cocaine is often referred to as
- snow
- coke
- blow
- rock
- crack
Most often created and ingested in powder form, cocaine can come in a crystal rock substance.
All types of cocaine ingestion are harmful to the body and can be traced in your system long after your last use.
Long-term cocaine use can negatively affect your body and brain.
Side effects include:
- cravings and addiction
- headaches
- seizures
- mood changes
- sexual problems
- lung damage
- heart issues, including heart disease or heart attack.
- stroke
- nose-related problems, including loss of smell, constant runny noses, and nosebleeds
- difficulty swallowing
- HIV or hepatitis (if injected)
- bowel trouble
- a change in overall brain chemistry
How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?
Cocaine can stay in your system for days to months following use. Times vary based on each person’s ability to metabolize the substance.
Another factor to consider when determining how long cocaine may stay in your system is how you’re testing for it.
In general, cocaine can be detected in the urine, hair, blood, or saliva.
The average time for how long cocaine stays in your system is broken down by detection location sample and is as follows:
- Urine test: Cocaine can be detected in the urine for up to 4 days.
- Blood or saliva test: Cocaine stays in blood or saliva for up to 2 days.
- Hair test: Cocaine can be detected in hair months to years after use.
Factors That May Affect Cocaine Detection Timelines
It is essential to know that everyone’s body and metabolism for processing substances are different.
What may take your body 2 days to process could take someone else a week or more. It is essential to work with an addiction specialist to help you understand the effect of cocaine on your system.
Outside of sample type and metabolism, other factors that may affect cocaine detection timelines include
- Cocaine purity
- Ingestion amount
- Method of drug administration
- Physical characteristics, such as height, weight, and overall health
- Body fat content
- Pre-existing health conditions, such as high blood pressure, kidney disorder, or liver disease
- Urine pH level
Effective and Personalized Cocaine Addiction Treatment in Utah
If you or a loved one needs help with effective cocaine treatment, our team at Alpine Recovery Lodge is here to help you through all stages of your recovery journey.
Working with our expert addiction specialists, we help you assess and mitigate your symptoms and detox effectively.
Call 801-874-2917 to speak confidentially with our team and start your road to cocaine addiction recovery now.
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