Your husband has a great career that he has worked very hard for. He established himself as a well-renowned artist, with commissioned projects all over the country. You know he has to travel a lot, and he mentions from time to time he gets stressed. But you know him, and he only has a couple of drinks when he goes out, nothing else.
Then you get the phone call you never wanted. He has been in an accident, and he is over 400 miles away from you. All you can do is get on the nearest plane and hope for the best. When you arrive, there are police officers all around, asking questions and trying to get statements. An officer and doctor approach you, informing you that your husband caused the accident. Immediately you ask if he has been drinking, but to your surprise, they inform you no. Instead, they say he had cocaine in his system, and it seemed to be a decent amount. All these years he’s been using cocaine? How did you not know? What happens now?
Cocaine was the second-highest cause of death in Florida in 2022, with 1,230 residents passing from the substance. Here at Tranquil Shores, we understand how cocaine can seem to be a need to get through tough work days. Seeking treatment doesn’t have to take away from work, which is why we allow our clients to keep their electronics and continue working while healing. We provide resources to the community through our blogs, to give education to loved ones hoping to understand addiction. Today, we are discussing how long cocaine stays in your system.
How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?
Cocaine is a relatively fast substance for the body to process. Derived from the coca plant, the effects of cocaine typically last 15-30 minutes. The half-life of cocaine is only 1-2 hours, meaning half of the substance has left the body after that time. However, certain cocaine metabolites have a half-life of 9-10 hours, meaning even if it feels like cocaine has left the system, there may still be remnants.
What Are the Immediate Effects of Cocaine Dependence?
When cocaine is used, the immediate effects can be felt instantly or up to 15 minutes later. This depends on the way it is ingested. The person will feel an intense rush of pleasure, followed by:
- Extreme bouts of energy
- Hypersensitivity to sight and sound
- Paranoia with increased distrust of others
- Mood swings such as happiness or irritability
- Decreased appetite
Paranoia and mood swings can happen after the first use of cocaine, but typically come with normal use.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Cocaine Dependence?
Over time, cocaine dependence can cause both physical and mental distress. For those who snort cocaine, nasal passages can become damaged and the sense of smell lost. Injecting cocaine can lead to abscesses, scars, and collapsed veins. Smoking it causes long-term lung infections as well as difficulty breathing.
Mentally, increased paranoia can lead to delusions and cause relationship loss. Mood swings can range in severity and lead to an increase in risky behaviors. Lying and stealing to keep using cocaine are common, even if it hurts the ones you love.
How Long Do the Effects of Cocaine Dependence Last?
Cocaine dependence can last as long as the person keeps using it. Whether 6 months or 20 years, dependence can continue even when the person wants to stop. The main reason for this is cocaine withdrawal symptoms. When the body goes without cocaine, the brain attempts to restore balance. This leads to increased depression and anxiety as well as physical discomfort, known as withdrawal.
How Is Cocaine Detected on Drug Tests?
The length of time cocaine can be detected varies by the type of drug test. For urine screens, the test detects the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine. Even after just one use, benzoylecgonine can be detected in urine for around 2-3 days. Saliva tests can detect cocaine metabolites only 1-2 days after use. Blood tests can detect cocaine for around 12 hours but can detect benzoylecgonine for roughly 48 hours after the last use. Finally, hair follicle tests can detect cocaine for around 3 months after the last use.
Depending on why you are getting a drug screen will tell you the type of test you will be getting. For most jobs and legal situations such as probation, a urine screen will be used because it is the most cost-effective and noninvasive. Blood tests can be used in legal instances such as a suspected DUI, but they are not used often as they require a trained professional and are invasive. Hair follicle tests can be used to determine long-term abstinence from cocaine use.
What Factors Can Affect How Long Cocaine Remains in Your System?
There are factors that can affect how long cocaine remains in the system. These can include:
- Body fat percentage
- Amount of cocaine being used
- How long the person has used
- Purity of the cocaine
- Mixing cocaine with other substances
Does Method of Use Affect How Long Cocaine Stays in Your System?
While not every person is the same, in general, if cocaine is snorted or rubbed on the gums, it will be detectable longer. Injecting and smoking cocaine is said to have a shorter detectable time in the system. This is because injecting and smoking introduce cocaine directly into the bloodstream, which starts the process of removal in the body. When snorted or rubbed on the gums, the cocaine has to pass through layers of tissue, taking longer to reach the bloodstream and, therefore, taking longer to process.
How Cocaine is Metabolized in The Body
Cocaine begins breaking down as soon as it enters the body. A chemical in the bloodstream called plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) begins the breakdown process of cocaine. As the process continues, the bloodstream and liver will work together to turn cocaine into benzoylecgonine. As we stated above, this metabolite is the most tested for when it comes to cocaine detection.
Are There Any Ways to Get Cocaine Out of My System Faster?
There is no way to speed up the way the body processes cocaine. Hydration, a healthy diet, and refraining from cocaine use will help remove cocaine that is stored in the system, but the liver and endocrine system still have to go through the detox process.
Does Cocaine Stay in Your System Longer when Mixed with Alcohol or Other Substances?
Alcohol can cause cocaine metabolites to stay in the body longer. This is because alcohol is stored in fat, as are cocaine metabolites. This means the body will hold onto them longer, making them still detectable after a couple of days.
When getting tested for cocaine, chances are the test is screening for multiple substances. 5, 10, and 12-panel tests exist, each one testing for more metabolites of substances. There is not a significant link between cocaine and other substances affecting the length of time they stay in the system, but if you are taking multiple substances, you can get a positive test for each individual substance.
Can Other Substances Cause You to Test Positive for Cocaine Dependence?
Clinically, there have been no reports of other substances causing a false positive for a cocaine drug screen. Cocaine has its own unique metabolites that are not present in other substances – legal or illicit. The only chance to test positive is to consume the coca plant or drink tea made from the leaves. However, the coca plant is illegal in the United States, and can only be consumed in South America.
Treatment Options for Cocaine Use Disorder
Seeking treatment for cocaine use is no small feat, and with the right support and therapy, recovery from cocaine addiction is possible. Worrying about possibly getting drug tested for work is no way to live. This puts cocaine in control of another aspect of your life that it doesn’t need to be. When the weight of that worry is lifted, you will feel like a whole new version of yourself and you’ll be able to focus on what makes you thrive.Cocaine can alter the way the mind thinks, convincing you that you need it to survive. At Tranquil Shores, we understand how looming this can feel. We keep our client-to-staff ratio at 3:1 so that you get the individual attention you deserve. This allows you to address all feelings of stress, worry, and guilt in a safe and healing place. Call us today at 727-391-7001 to learn more about our cocaine use disorder program.
