Cocaine Detectability: How Long Do Residues Occur in Urine, Blood, and Hair?

What is cocaine?

Cocaine is made from the leaves of the coca bush. The leaves contain about 1% Cocaine. A chemical process results in cocaine hydrochloride. Cocaine is known as a white powder that has a local anesthetic effect. It has a suppressive effect when it comes to anxiety and fatigue and promotes a euphoric state. For this reason, cocaine is often used by top performers who have to perform above average, be it in the professional, school or sporting environment.

How long is cocaine detectable?

Cocaine is a „stimulant drug“ that has a short state of intoxication. As a result, cocaine users overestimate themselves and get behind the wheel. This clouded certainty becomes particularly apparent when you take a closer look at the detection period. Depending on the type of test, cocaine can still be detected after days, weeks or even months.

Detection time of cocaine

Since cocaine is mainly broken down by the liver, blood and urine tests can only be detected for a few days. In a hair sample, cocaine consumption can be detected for much longer.

How long can cocaine be detected in the urine?

Like most types of drugs, cocaine can be detected in urine. Specific cocaine rapid tests provide reliable and established results here, as they do not determine the main substance of the drug itself, but its degradation products. The main metabolite of cocaine is the so-called benzoylecgonine. It is formed by splitting its chemical elements by means of water (hydrolysis).

While cocaine only remains in the urine for a few hours, benzoylecgonine can be detected for up to 3 days by means of a rapid drug test.

How long can cocaine be detected in the blood?

In addition to the established urine tests, there are also reliable blood tests. In a blood analysis, the main substance of cocaine can be detected for about 6 to 24 hours . The degradation product can also be determined by a cocaine blood test about 2 – 3 days later.

How long can cocaine be detected in hair?

Hair samples are a suitable method to be able to detect cocaine consumption in the long term. This is because certain substances are deposited in the hair. Depending on the amount of consumption and duration, consumption can be proven for several weeks and months .