Medically Reviewed By: Kimberly Langdon M.D.
How long cocaine stays in your blood depends on several factors, including the method of use of cocaine and the amount used. In general, it will take up to two days to detect cocaine in the blood.
Detection Times For Cocaine In The Blood
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the half-life of cocaine is between 45 minutes to two hours after the last dose.
Typically, the cocaine detection windows in the body depend on the type of test performed. Drug tests for cocaine include blood tests, urine tests, hair tests, and saliva tests.
In most cases, saliva and blood tests may detect benzoylecgonine and other cocaine metabolites two days after the last use
Hair follicle tests and urine tests take longer to detect the presence of cocaine — 90 days and four days, respectively.
Factors That Influence How Long Cocaine Stays In The Body
The detection time for the stimulant drug depends on several factors, including the method of cocaine use, how much you took, your weight, and whether you smoked cocaine.
Amount Of Cocaine A Person Used
The more cocaine a person uses, the longer it will stay in their system. This is because cocaine is fat-soluble and can be stored by your body’s fat cells.
The amount of time that it takes for cocaine to leave your body depends on how much you use and how often you use it.
How Often A Person Abuses Cocaine
If a person abuses cocaine regularly, it’ll stay in their system for longer than someone who only uses it occasionally.
When you use cocaine regularly, your body gets used to it and begins to build up a tolerance.
Method Of Use
Cocaine dabbed onto the gums may linger in your bloodstream for a more extended period of time than cocaine that’s injected or smoked.
Snorting cocaine may also increase the detection window.
Cocaine Purity Level
The purity level of cocaine will also affect how long it stays in your system.
If you use pure cocaine, it will stay in your system for a longer period than if you use cocaine that has been cut with other substances.
Co-Occurring Alcohol Abuse
If you use cocaine with alcohol, it is essential to know that alcohol can cause specific cocaine metabolites, such as ecgonine, to stick around longer.
This is because alcohol causes your liver to metabolize cocaine slowly.
Treatment Options For Cocaine Addiction
Detoxing from cocaine is a short-term process, but recovery from cocaine addiction requires long-term treatment and support.
In addition to the detox treatment program, we provide medical assistance during withdrawal.
Cocaine addiction treatment typically includes inpatient or outpatient care, family therapy, individual therapy, group therapy, and 12-step support groups.
Research shows that both residential and outpatient drug addiction care are effective forms of treatment for cocaine use and other forms of substance use.
Treatment may also focus on cocaine abuse, withdrawal symptoms, and side effects, such as high blood pressure, increased body fat, and a constant elevated heart rate.
Find Addiction Treatment Services At Bedrock Recovery Center
Bedrock Recovery Center is among the best addiction treatment facilities in the northeast. Schedule a consultation today to help you and your loved one stop cocaine abuse.
- Journal of Analytical Toxicology https://academic.oup.com/jat/article/34/2/57/759133
- National Institute on Drug Abuse https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/cocaine
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/sma12-4668.pdf