How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?

Like anything else that enters the body, the cocaine a person ingests is eventually processed by the liver and kidneys and expelled in the form of waste. Depending on how much cocaine a person uses, the strength of the dose, and the natural pace of that person’s bodily functions, the amount of time the drug will stay in his or her system can vary significantly.

Detecting Cocaine with Drug Tests

There are drug tests available that can detect the presence of cocaine (or a metabolite of cocaine) in samples of biological material. The most common types of samples include urine, blood, saliva, and hair, all of which have been successfully used to identify recent cocaine use in a wide variety of individuals.

Different Sources, Different Durations

Even when the high has ended and the body has broken the chemicals down into inert forms, cocaine can leave tell-tale signs of its presence for some time. Because different systems of the body function in different ways on their own schedules, cocaine may still be detectable in one bodily material long after it has disappeared from others.

Below are the approximate lifespans of cocaine in the four most common kinds of sample materials given for drug testing (urine, blood, saliva, and hair):

• Urine: 3-4 days
• Blood: 1-2 days
• Saliva: Up to 1 day
• Hair: Up to 90 days

Because each type of sample retains cocaine differently, the type of test being used will depend on how far back the requester of the test wants it to go. For example: If employers suspect that unusual behavior in the past week is related to cocaine use, they might request a blood or urine test to check up to four days prior. If a court order requires a person to prove via a drug test that he or she has not used cocaine in the past few months, a hair test would be more appropriate.

Certain Factors Can Impact Duration

There are numerous things that can affect how long cocaine will remain in a person’s body or test samples, such as the size and strength of the dose taken, the individual’s tolerance for the drug, his or her natural metabolic rate, and the presence of certain conditions or medications. In the case of urine, for example, a person taking a diuretic medication might eliminate the cocaine faster than usual.

Get Help for a Cocaine Addiction at Yellowstone Recovery

An addiction to cocaine can unravel your life thread by thread, damaging your health, your relationships, and your self-image. Even if you have only been addicted for a short time, the potential for sudden fatality means your days could already be numbered.

Escape the cycle of use and sickness with the help of Yellowstone Recovery’s powerful addiction treatment methods. With safe medical detox, clinically backed therapy techniques and top-notch facilities, our inpatient and outpatient programs give clients the professional help they need with the dignity and respect they deserve.

If you’re ready to say goodbye to cocaine for good, contact us today at (888) 418-4188.