Cocaine stays in your system for varying lengths of time depending on the type of test used and individual factors such as frequency of use, metabolism, and overall health. Detection times by test type:
- Blood: Cocaine can be detected in blood for up to about 1 to 2 days after use. Some sources specify around 12 hours for cocaine itself, but its metabolite benzoylecgonine can be detected up to 48 hours in blood
- Saliva: Cocaine is detectable in saliva for up to 1 to 2 days, sometimes up to 2-3 days in heavy users
- Urine: This is the most common testing method. Cocaine metabolites, especially benzoylecgonine, can be detected in urine for about 2 to 4 days after a single use. For frequent or heavy users, detection can extend up to 1 to 2 weeks or even longer in some cases
- Hair: Cocaine can be detected in hair follicles for up to 90 days or more, reflecting long-term use rather than recent intake
Additional factors influencing detection time:
- Frequency and amount of cocaine use: chronic or heavy use leads to longer detection windows.
- Individual metabolic rate and health: faster metabolism clears cocaine more quickly.
- Purity of cocaine and combination with other substances can affect how long it stays detectable
Summary:
Test Type| Typical Detection Window
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Blood| Up to 1-2 days
Saliva| Up to 1-2 days (sometimes 2-3)
Urine| 2-4 days (up to 1-2 weeks for heavy use)
Hair| Up to 90 days or longer
Cocaine itself has a short half-life (~1.5 hours), but its metabolite benzoylecgonine, which drug tests commonly detect, has a longer half-life (~5.5 to 12 hours), explaining the extended detection times in urine and blood
. This timeline provides a general guide, but individual results may vary based on personal factors and testing methods.
