You immediately notice the concern on your boyfriend’s face when he hangs up the phone. “What’s wrong?” you ask. “Bill called and said they are doing random drug tests at work,” he responds. “Do you have anything to worry about?” you inquire. “Just a bit of cocaine, possibly,” your boyfriend tells you. Surely not what you wanted to hear.

In the state of Arizona, employers are allowed to drug test employees as long as it aligns with their drug testing policy. If your boyfriend doesn’t comply, he could be fired from his job. While you know that this issue deserves more attention, and possibly even substance abuse treatment, your immediate concern is the cocaine detection time. Random drug tests are not as common as they once were, but many employers still enforce them.

Drug use continues to be a major problem in Arizona due to its complex transportation infrastructure that makes it easy to move drugs across the border and into the state. In one survey, 9.52 percent of Arizona residents reported using illicit drugs in the past month, which is more than the national average. Therefore, the issue of how long substances stay in the body comes up often.

Wolf Creek Recovery treats the root causes of substance use so that individuals no longer have to fear drug tests or any of the other hurdles that come with substance use. Let’s dig deeper into how cocaine affects the body and how long it stays in your system. .

How Is Cocaine Detected on Drug Tests?

Like most drugs, cocaine is detectable on drug tests. However, the results can vary depending on the timing of the test, the type of test used, how often you use cocaine and other factors. Below is a breakdown of the most common tests used to identify cocaine in the body, along with how accurate the tests are.

Factors That Affect How Long Cocaine Remains in Your System

When a person consumes cocaine, the substance begins to metabolize almost immediately. Once it enters the bloodstream, it travels to the liver where it’s broken down into several metabolites. How quickly cocaine is metabolized depends on several factors:

• Metabolic rate. People with faster metabolisms tend to process cocaine faster than those with slower metabolisms.
• Ingestion. Cocaine can be ingested in a few different ways. Each method brings cocaine into the body at a different rate, affecting how quickly it’s metabolized. For instance, cocaine is metabolized faster when it’s smoked or injected compared to snorted.
• Frequency and amount of use. Individuals who use cocaine regularly are more likely to have metabolites in their system because the body hasn’t had enough time to process the cocaine. Those who aren’t regular users can usually metabolize the drug faster.
• Individual and lifestyle factors. How long cocaine stays in the body also depends on your lifestyle, such as age, overall health, liver function and hydration levels.

Does Method of Use Affect How Long Cocaine Stays in Your System?

The method of use can also play a role in how long cocaine stays in the system. Cocaine that’s snorted or dabbed onto the gums may stay in the system longer than cocaine that’s been smoked or injected.

However, the method of use is most obvious when it comes to how quickly you’ll feel the effects of cocaine. For example, if you snort cocaine, you’ll feel the effects within 3-5 minutes. Smoking and injecting cocaine produces symptoms within 5-10 seconds, and oral effects are felt for 10-30 minutes.

Are There Any Ways to Get Cocaine Out of My System Faster?

Even though the effects of cocaine last about a half hour, the drug stays in your system longer. Stop using cocaine immediately – the sooner you do this, the sooner it will leave your system. Cocaine withdrawal is not as dangerous as opioid or alcohol withdrawal, but it can still be extremely uncomfortable. An inpatient or residential treatment program can provide you with physical and emotional support during this time.

During the withdrawal period, there is no great way to flush the cocaine and its metabolites out of your system. You just have to wait it out. That being said, there might be some ways that you can “speed up” the withdrawal process:

• Drink plenty of water. This can help flush out metabolites more quickly. Water is best, but tea or juice work well, too.
• Exercise. Keeping active is a great way to refresh your body, clear toxins and boost your metabolism. People who are healthy and active often clear cocaine faster than people who are overweight or sedentary.
• Eat a healthy diet. Make sure to eat a healthy diet that consists of plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. This will help increase your metabolism and hopefully excrete metabolites faster.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine. Steer clear of alcohol or caffeine, as these can interfere with the healing process. It takes longer to clear cocaine from the body if you are drinking or smoking, so cut back or eliminate them completely.

How Is Cocaine Metabolized in the Body?

Cocaine is mostly metabolized by the enzymes in the blood and liver. Metabolites are created by the metabolization process, traveling to the hair, saliva, urine and bloodstream. They have an easier time leaving the body, which is why they are an important part of the metabolism process and cocaine detection time.

Cocaine metabolism begins when a chemical in the blood called plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) breaks down cocaine into another chemical called ecgonine methyl ester (EME). The enzymes then break down cocaine into benzoylecgonine, which is what most detection tests look for. Benzoylecgonine is the major metabolite found in the urine, and it can be detected for 48-96 hours.

Does Cocaine Stay in Your System Longer if It’s Mixed With Alcohol or Other Substances?

Using cocaine with other substances like alcohol can cause it to stay in the system longer. For example, when cocaine and alcohol are used together, a new metabolite called cocaethylene is created in the liver. Cocaethylene carries an 18- to 25-fold increase over cocaine alone for immediate death. Alcohol can also increase the peak concentration of cocaine by about 20 percent.

Many drugs can cause liver damage over time, which can make it difficult to metabolize other substances like cocaine. Furthermore, it’s also important to pay attention to medications, supplements and certain foods that can slow down or speed up the body’s metabolism. Either way, combining cocaine with other substances is more dangerous than taking cocaine alone.

Treatment Options for Cocaine in Prescott, AZ

Psychosocial treatments are the gold standard for treating cocaine use disorder. For instance, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches how to better identify negative thoughts and actions related to substance use, as well as healthier ways to cope. Motivational interviewing (MI) is another effective therapy that enhances a person’s motivation to make positive behavior changes.

At this time, the FDA has not approved any medications to treat cocaine use disorder specifically. However, support is available, and people do not have to walk this path alone. With the right therapy and support groups, individuals with cocaine use disorder can get better. And those random drug tests that turn up no longer have to be a source of stress.

Wolf Creek Recovery is located in sunny Prescott, Arizona where individuals are free to be themselves. Not only do clients get to spend time participating in adventure and outdoor therapy, but also there is an extended care program that provides ongoing support. To learn more about our cocaine use disorder treatment programs, contact our team today at 833-732-8202. We are here to empower you to build a life that you love!