How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your Urine?

Urine testing is the most common drug testing method used to detect cocaine, due to it's affordability, ease of access, and relative accuracy.

Factors Affecting How Long Cocaine Stays in Your Body

The half life of cocaine is approximately one hour. This means that after an hour, approximately half of the cocaine in the body's bloodstream has been eliminated. However, heavy or long term use can cause longer elimination times.

The method of cocaine use affects how quickly the substance reaches the brain. However, it doesn’t affect how long cocaine remains in a person’s system.

Various other factors can influence the amount of time cocaine stays in someone’s body. These include:

• Metabolism
• Weight
• Dose
• Frequency of use
• Urine pH
• Concentration of urine
• Kidney or liver impairment

Drinking while taking cocaine may also slow cocaine from leaving the body.

Effects of Cocaine Use

Cocaine use gives users both short-term and long-term effects.

Short-Term Effects

Cocaine is a quick-acting central nervous system stimulant drug. It gives users an intense yet short euphoric high that lasts between a few minutes to an hour, depending on how it’s taken. 

The speed of onset of cocaine’s effects, along with the duration of the high, depends on the method of use:

• Snorting cocaine produces results felt within three to five minutes. These feelings usually persist for up to 30 minutes.
• Smoking cocaine gives effects within five to ten seconds. They continue for up to 10 minutes. 
• Injecting cocaine leads to effects experienced within five to ten seconds. These last for up to 20 minutes. 
• Oral ingestion of cocaine results in a high felt within ten to 30 minutes, persisting for longer periods of up to 90 minutes.

Injecting or smoking cocaine gives users a rush, which is followed by a high. Other methods of taking cocaine just provide a high. 

It’s common for cocaine users to use the stimulant drug repeatedly in short timeframes to maintain the high. This is known as a binge, which often concludes with an unpleasant crash. In some cases, users may seek more cocaine to counter the crash.

Long-Term Effects

Repeated cocaine substance use can lead to various health conditions and long-term effects. These include an increased tolerance to the drug and addiction.

Other long-term side effects include:

• Increased risk of stroke and seizures
• Inflammation of the heart muscle
• The reduced capability of the heart to contract
• Aortic ruptures
• Increased risk of Parkinson’s disease
• Malnourishment 
• Weight loss
• Loss of sense of smell
• Nosebleeds
• Difficulty swallowing
• Chronic inflamed and runny nose
• Increased risk of HIV and hepatitis
• Worsening of asthma

In 2017, around 966,000 people in the United States aged 12 or older experienced cocaine addiction.

National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2017

Cocaine Addiction Treatment Options

Deciding to seek treatment for cocaine addiction is the first and most crucial step toward recovery. Once someone admits to struggling with cocaine substance abuse, the only way to go is forward.

If you or a loved one are experiencing cocaine addiction, there are several treatment options to overcome the disorder. Cocaine addiction is a complex disease. Therefore, treatment must address the illness alongside other co-occurring mental health disorders.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation for cocaine addiction usually involves detox and therapy at an inpatient program. These schemes offer a supportive environment where people experiencing cocaine addiction can recover and won’t be tempted to use it. Such programs help a recovering cocaine user learn how to live a healthy and fulfilled life without relying on the substance.

Most rehabilitation treatments last between 30 to 90 days. However, they can last longer, depending on the patient’s needs. A typical rehab program may include a combination of:

• Mental health therapy
• Equine counseling 
• Art therapy
• Holistic therapies
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Dialectical behavioral therapy
• Support groups
• Relapse prevention
• Aftercare planning

Support Groups

Once former cocaine users leave therapy, they can have a support system in place to avoid relapse. Consistent participation in support groups helps recovering cocaine users connect with other people who face similar challenges and share experiences.

Support groups also allow those recovering to receive help from former cocaine abusers who have experience overcoming the disease and understand its difficulties. 

Some support groups are designed for recovering cocaine users. These include Narcotics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous. These organizations are located throughout the United States and offer 12-step schemes to help recovering cocaine users to achieve long-term sobriety.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a treatment for cocaine abusers that can be taken at rehabilitation or separately. The therapy is a common way to support people with various addictions.

Therapists teach patients how to recognize and understand harmful thoughts about themselves that may lead to a relapse. Patients also learn how to resist using cocaine again.