Do you also have a drug test coming up and want to know whether the cocaine you smoked will be detectable or not? Let me save you some time and give you the answers you are looking for.
Cocaine stays in your system for 3–4 days, usually. After that, it is usually not detectable in saliva, blood, or urine tests. Although it may be detectable with hair tests for up to 90 days, its effects don’t last until then. We have also shared its metabolism below to help you understand it better.
Reading this guide will enable you to understand everything about cocaine and its stay in your system. Let’s start uncovering more about it without waiting any further.
Understanding Cocaine Metabolism
Cocaine’s digestion starts immediately after its intake. It has a liver metabolism. It travels from the bloodstream to the liver and is then broken down there. It is then divided into metabolites like benzoylecgonine by enzymes. This process can be slow or fast, depending on several factors. Let’s check them out in detail.
Factors Affecting Cocaine Metabolism
Cocaine metabolism is a complex process that can be influenced by various factors. Understanding these factors is essential for understanding how long cocaine is in your system. Let’s take a look at them:
- Metabolic Rate: Everyone has a different metabolic rate. It also plays a very important role in cocaine metabolism. People with faster metabolisms tend to process it more quickly than those with slower metabolisms.
- Method of Ingestion: The route of administration also affects the metabolism process. Smoking or injecting cocaine leads to a faster metabolism than snorting it.
- Frequency and Amount of Use: Regular or heavy use of cocaine can also affect your metabolism process. Continuous intake without any time for metabolism leads to accumulation. It is also the reason behind the duration of detection.
- Individual Health and Lifestyle Factors: Various health and lifestyle factors also affect the speed of metabolism. These may include your age, overall health, liver function, and hydration levels. This rate is very slow, especially if you already have liver problems.
How Long Is Cocaine In Your System For Drug Tests?
Although cocaine may temporarily last for a few minutes or hours, it is detectable in your system for up to a few days. It is because of its presence in the bloodstream. This detectable duration is different for different types of tests. It depends on various factors like the amount and frequency of use, metabolic rate, personal health, etc. Let’s check these out in detail.
Blood Tests
The first and most common type of drug test is a blood test. It can be detectable from 1-2 hours to 1-2 days after its use. It’s relatively short in duration as compared to other tests. A blood test is considered an efficient method if you want to test for recent use.
Urine Tests
The next one we have is the urine test. They work by detecting benzoylecgonine, which is a metabolite. The detectable duration for this drug is usually 2 to 4 days. But if you are a frequent or heavy smoker, this duration can be up to 1 to 2 weeks.
Saliva Tests
Saliva is a quick and easy test if you want to check recent Cocaine use by someone. It is a non-invasive way to check for this drug. It is usually detectable in this test for 24–48 hours. But this duration may vary for heavy users.
Hair Tests
The last one is our hair test. Although it’s rare, it is also done in some places. Cocaine is detectable in hair follicles for up to 3 months or even longer in some cases. It is especially useful if you want to notice for a longer duration. This drug test is often done at places that have strict guidelines about it.
Factors Affecting Cocaine Stay In Your Body
There are several factors that can affect how long cocaine will stay in your system. Following are some of these factors that can influence this duration.
- Dosage affects detection duration.
- Regular use extends detection periods.
- The administration method impacts metabolism.
- Metabolic rates vary by individual.
- Purity and impurities alter elimination.
- Hydration and pH influence excretion.
- Drug interactions affect metabolism.
- Individual factors contribute to variability.
Final Words
Cocaine usually stays in your system for 24 to 72 hours. This duration can vary depending on multiple factors like your health, age, frequency of use, etc. Understanding this process is essential when facing drug tests.
Remember, its metabolites can be in your hair follicles and can be detectable for up to 90 days. Beware; combining it with other drugs can slow down metabolism and increase its stay in your system. You can speed up this process by hydrating yourself and making some dietary changes.