Cocaine and its metabolites can generally be detected in urine for about 2 to 4 days after the last use. For occasional or light users, the detection window is typically up to 3 to 4 days. However, in chronic or heavy users, cocaine metabolites may be detectable in urine for a week or even longer, sometimes up to 2 weeks or more due to accumulation in body tissues and slower elimination
. The main metabolite tested in urine is benzoylecgonine, which has a longer half-life than cocaine itself and can remain detectable for several days after cocaine use
. Detection times vary based on factors such as the amount and frequency of cocaine use, individual metabolism, purity of the drug, and co-consumption of other substances
. In summary:
- Occasional/light use: up to 2-4 days in urine
- Heavy/chronic use: up to 7 days or more, potentially up to 2 weeks or longer in some cases
- Benzoylecgonine is the primary metabolite detected in urine drug tests
- Individual factors influence detection duration significantly
This variability means urine drug tests for cocaine usually cover a window of about 3-5 days for most users but can be longer for frequent or heavy users
