Cocaine may go by many names, but the result for those who struggle with cocaine addiction is the same. For over 200 years now, humans have used cocaine as a form of anesthesia and neural stimulant. Recent studies have shown that millions of Americans aged 12 and older struggle with regular cocaine use today.
Because many individuals will use cocaine in brief binges, the likelihood of an overdose is extremely high. Cocaine and cocaine metabolites can remain in your system for weeks after you’ve initially used the drug, especially for heavy cocaine users. That’s why it’s extremely important to understand how long cocaine remains in your body—and when you should consider seeking help.
Read on to learn how long cocaine stays in your urine, what can affect how long cocaine remains in your system, and how you can begin cocaine addiction treatment today.
What Are the Short-Term Effects of Cocaine?
When a person uses cocaine, they will first feel the short-term impacts on their central nervous system. Cocaine use increases brain activity in a way that leads a person to feel a natural high. As a result, an individual may appear excitable, overly confident, or highly talkative and anxious as they experience the short-term effects of cocaine. Physical symptoms could include dilated pupils, increased blood pressure, and nausea.
Cocaine can be used through snorting, smoking, injections, or oral ingestion. How cocaine enters the body can affect how long a person experiences the high. But because a cocaine high is relatively brief, many individuals will choose to binge cocaine repeatedly over a short time. A heavy cocaine user will have to take more and more of the substance to experience the same results.
Within an hour of repeated cocaine use, a person can experience an uncomfortable crash. Individuals who hope to avoid these withdrawal symptoms will seek out more cocaine and continue the cycle of abuse.
Does Cocaine Stay in Your System Longer than Other Drugs?
Initially, the answer to this question is no. The effects of cocaine usually begin to wear off within an hour, and cocaine will usually only be detectable in a urine drug test for up to three days after initial use. In contrast, MDMA can be detected for up to four days. And marijuana can be detected for up to a week after use.
However, the amount of time cocaine is detectable in an individual’s system begins to shift based on the type of drug test administered and whether a person is a heavy cocaine user. Detection times for saliva tests and blood tests usually work for up to two days after a person last used. But hair tests can detect cocaine for months and even years after use. And cocaine can be detected in urine for up to two weeks in individuals who abuse cocaine regularly and in large amounts.
Urine drug testing is still the most common form of screening used by employers and police investigators. A urine sample can be tested for cocaine by screening for benzoylecgonine, the primary metabolite produced by cocaine.
Those who test positive for cocaine use need to be prepared to consider if they should seek treatment for cocaine use disorder.
What Does Heavy Cocaine Use Look Like?
But when exactly is someone considered a heavy cocaine user? If you cannot complete your daily routine without regular cocaine use, it might be time to look into cocaine treatment programs. Initially, this may begin to show up as feelings of irritability or muscle cramps when you can’t immediately access the drug.
Long-term cocaine use is especially tricky because of how it affects a person’s brain. This means cocaine dependence is both physical and mental, which is part of why detox should never be attempted alone.
And unfortunately, over time cocaine will impact a person’s ability to problem-solve, make decisions, or retain memories. Heavy cocaine users may also experience brain atrophy, minor strokes, or brain swelling. Other physical symptoms can include permanent damage to the sinuses, teeth, heart, liver, and kidneys.
Cocaine Addiction Treatment
If you think the time to seek help for cocaine use is now, Skypoint Recovery is ready to support your rehabilitation. We offer both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs to guarantee you can create a recovery plan with us that best meets your needs.
There are usually two main steps involved in addiction treatment, and this is also true for cocaine recovery programs. At Skypoint Recovery in Akron, Ohio, we work to offer you the best individualized care for your personal struggle with cocaine abuse.
First, medical professionals specializing in addiction care will help you break your cycle of substance abuse through detox. Medical detoxification helps rid your body of any harmful substances and will ease the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms.
Then through mental health programs like cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy, you will be given the space to address the root cause of your addictive behaviors. We also offer life skills programs to help you focus on healthy daily habits like nutrition, meditation, and exercise in place of substance abuse in the future.
It all starts with the courage of one phone call. You never have to feel alone when struggling with your addiction, thanks to the helping hands of Skypoint Recovery!
The Skypoint Recovery Difference
At Skypoint Recovery Ohio, we will help you escape the noise and chaos of your daily life so you can focus on your individual mental and physical needs. Our main goal of Skypoint Recovery substance abuse treatment is to help you experience all the benefits of sobriety and develop daily practices to help you choose a drug-free life. We guarantee you get the individualized treatment you need to reclaim your desired healthy life.
Contact Skypoint Recovery today to learn how we can best help support you on your journey toward rehabilitation.