How Long Does Cocaine Stay In Urine (And Why)?

Exact Answer: Three days (Approximately)

Cocaine is obtained from the leaves of two coca species, originally developed as a painkiller. The word cocaine refers to the drugs in powder form drug. Cocaine stays in our body in different systems for some period. Cocaine is the most dangerous drug known to man. It is a powerful stimulant drug and makes a person feel instant power and energy.

Two types of chemical forms of cocaine abused by people are the water-soluble hydrochloride salt and the water-insoluble cocaine base. Hydrochloride salts are powder and users inject or snort it. The base form of the cocaine is prepared by processing the drug with ammonia or sodium bicarbonate and water. This is then heated to remove hydrochloride and produce a smokable substance.

How Long Does Cocaine Stay In Urine?

When any person consumes cocaine it remains in different parts of our body for some days. Cocaine remains for about two days in blood, in urine for about three days and hair tests can detect it even after months.

People who consume cocaine daily are heavy users. In heavy users, cocaine can be detected in urine for up to two weeks. However, the period also depends on different factors such as metabolism, weight, dose, when last used, urine pH, or even how frequently it is used by them.

Cocaine is a very fast-acting stimulant. Its effects are short-lived but are intense. It lasts for about a few minutes to an hour. Cocaine consumed in any form can be addictive and cause long-term effects. It is common for people to use cocaine again and again if once used as it is addictive. Usage of cocaine over and over again in a short period to remain high is called binge.

As a central nervous system stimulant, it elevates vital life functions such as blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate Cocaine usage has an adverse effect on our body and has a number of side effects. Its risks include mood disorder, memory loss, slow reaction time, high blood pressure, respiratory illness, weight loss, stroke, and many more.

Why Does Cocaine Stays In Urine For So Long?

Cocaine has an active metabolite called benzoylecgonine. Benzoylecgonine takes longer to be removed from the body completely. It takes approximately about two to three days to be expelled from the body completely.

The more frequent usage and high doses can take longer for the body to be cocaine-free. It happens because the more frequently cocaine is taken, the harder it gets for the body to remove it. With the frequent usage of cocaine, the body’s elimination system loses its functionality and efficiency.

The period of removal also depends on the method used for the intake of cocaine. If the cocaine is injected, its effect is shown faster and remains for a short duration. It is faster for the body to remove it completely. When it is snorted its effects last for about ten to thirty minutes and could be eliminated from the body within three hours.

Conclusion

Cocaine can be detected through various screening tests. Different tests are blood tests, saliva tests, urine tests, and hair follicle tests. All these tests have different time intervals for the detection of cocaine in the body.

Cocaine is a Scheduled || controlled substance. It is because of its high potential for abuse and severe psychological and physical dependence. It is legally available only for certain medical and surgical purposes. However, it is not prescribed and is illegal for general and common use. It cannot be used for recreational purposes.

Cocaine is an addictive drug and should be avoided to use frequently. It should be used only for medicinal purposes and on expert’s advice. Intake of cocaine frequently also affects our health.

References

1. https://cdn.addiction-treatment-services.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ATS-Cocaine-Infographic.pdf
2. https://academic.oup.com/jat/article-abstract/26/7/393/708893