How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?

A powerful drug that imparts intense effects on the brain and body, cocaine remains one of the most dangerous and widely used illicit substances. A survey from the National Institutes of Health notes that about 41 million adults reported a lifetime use of cocaine, with 5.4 million revealing using it recently. 

If you’ve used cocaine occasionally or developed an addiction to it, taking the steps to quit is the best choice for you, your health, and your loved ones. You might wonder how long cocaine stays in your system — especially if you’re ready to enter detox or if you have cocaine drug tests scheduled that could negatively impact the outcome of a job opportunity. 

Here’s what you need to know about how your body metabolizes cocaine and processes the drug and various factors that can affect cocaine detection times. 

What Is Cocaine? 

Cocaine is a stimulant that’s derived from the leaves of the coca plant indigenous mainly to Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru. In fact, most of the mainstream supply of cocaine is produced in South American jungle labs and illegally imported into the U.S., notes the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. 

Cocaine was not always an illegal drug; when it was discovered in the late 19th century, it originally had pharmacological purposes as an anesthetic. Around that time, it was also used as a flavoring ingredient in Coca-Cola (though you won’t find any cocaine in the soft drink today). 

Most cocaine comes as a white powder that users inhale through their nostrils, where it enters the bloodstream through the nasal membranes. The euphoric effect you’ll feel after snorting cocaine is due to the increase of dopamine levels in the brain. Cocaine speeds up your body, so taking it will also make you feel alert, more excitable, and with a lowered appetite. You’ll feel these effects within three to five minutes if inhaled and 15 to 30 seconds taken intravenously. 

Is Cocaine Addictive?  

Yes, cocaine is highly addictive. “Drugs like cocaine powerfully activate reward and reinforcement mechanisms in the brain,” notes the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) — the reward being the high one receives after taking cocaine, and reinforcement as the desire to want more of the drug. However, repeated, chronic use can lead to tolerance (needing more cocaine to match the same euphoric high as before) and, eventually, a substance use disorder (a complete inability to stop using a substance even when you want to). Over time, you may find that your brain craves the elevated dopamine levels provided by cocaine, leading to compulsive use despite the negative short- and long-term consequences.  

“This dopamine surge, simultaneous with the euphoric effects of the drug, teaches the brain that this reward is desirable and to seek it again,” says NIDA. “This reinforcement sets in motion the addiction cycle.” 

The DEA adds, “Many addicts report that as tolerance develops, they fail to achieve the positive effects they experienced when they first began using the drug; thus, they begin to use cocaine with greater frequency and in larger doses.” 

Can You Overdose on Cocaine?   

It is possible to overdose on cocaine since users will have no awareness of how potent their supply is. An overdose happens when toxic amounts of cocaine overwhelm your body’s ability to process the drug. 

A cocaine overdose can include these symptoms: 

• Abrupt mood changes 
• Paranoia 
• Panic 
• Agitation 
• Aggressiveness 
• Confusion 
• Nausea/vomiting 
• Chest and stomach pain 
• Twitching/convulsions/seizures 

However, because cocaine can elevate one’s heart rate and blood pressure, an overdose can prove fatal, leading to severe complications like heart attack, stroke, respiratory problems, coma, or death. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, cocaine overdose deaths remained stable between 2009 and 2013 but nearly tripled from 1.6 per 100,000 people in 2013 to 4.5 in 2018. 

How Is Cocaine Metabolized? 

Because cocaine has a shorter half-life (around one hour) than some other narcotics, your body can metabolize it quickly. This happens when the body breaks down cocaine into metabolites, which travel to the urine, saliva, hair, and bloodstream, as cocaine in blood/saliva/hair and urine can each be tested for cocaine.  

Cocaine’s drug metabolism starts after plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) — a chemical in your blood plasma — breaks down the drug into ecgonine methyl ester, or EME. Enzymes in your body also break down the cocaine further into benzoylecgonine, which can travel to the urine, saliva, hair, and bloodstream and is the main metabolite that shows up on cocaine drug tests. 

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System for a Urine Test? 

Urine tests are one of the most common cocaine drug test methods. How long does cocaine stay in urine? There’s a fairly quick cocaine elimination time from the body, but benzoylecgonine — the metabolite mentioned earlier — can be detected up to four days after last use. In heavier cocaine use, cocaine detection times may last a bit longer.  

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System for a Blood Test? 

In the bloodstream, the drug is detectable in your plasma’s metabolites up to 48 hours (two days) after taking cocaine.   

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System for a Saliva Test? 

Cocaine saliva tests are becoming more popular in settings that require quick and non-invasive sampling. A saliva test can detect cocaine in the body within one to two days (24 to 48 hours) since last used.  

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System for a Hair Test? 

Though it may seem unlikely, hair tests actually offer a longer cocaine detection window than a urine, blood, or saliva test. Unlike those fluids, your body doesn’t discard your hair, so cocaine metabolites can be detected in the follicles up to 90 days after last using the drug. Cutting your hair may increase the chances of a negative test result since the strands that contain metabolites are now gone. 

Factors That Affect How Long Cocaine Stays in the System 

Multiple factors can influence the cocaine detection times listed above: 

• Genetics: Your genetic makeup can affect your liver enzyme activity, altering the rate at which cocaine is metabolized. People with faster metabolisms might clear the drug more quickly, while slower metabolizers may retain traces of it for longer. 
• Frequency and severity of use: If you’re a chronic cocaine user, metabolites may accumulate in your system, leading to longer drug detection times. 
• Dosage: The amount of cocaine you consume directly impacts how long it stays in your system. Larger doses require more time to be completely eliminated from your system. 
• Your overall health: Your liver and kidney functions are important in metabolizing and excreting cocaine. Your weight and body fat percentage also play a role since cocaine metabolites can bind to fat cells and prolong detection times. 
• Polydrug use: Mixing cocaine with other substances (like alcohol or opioids) can extend its presence in the body.