Frequently Asked Questions
How long does cocaine stay in your system ?
Most people feel the effects of cocaine anywhere from 3.3 to 5.5 hours after taking it.
If someone has used cocaine only once, it’s usually detectable in urinefor around three to five days.
For someone who takes a larger dose of cocaine or uses it occasionally, it may show up in urine for three to seven days.
For frequent or heavy cocaine users, a urine test can show the drug for five to 14 days after the last dose.
Cocaine can stay in your system anywhere from 3 to 5 hours after you take it but cocaine also has an active metabolite called benzoylecgonine, and that takes longer to be expelled from the body completely. It’s usually between one and two days before this metabolite leaves the system.
Estimates show that when someone takes cocaine, about 40% hydrolyzes to form benzoylecgonine. Then, another 40% is metabolized by the liver, producing ecgonine methyl ester. Cocaine has a relatively short half-life of around an hour, while benzoylecgonine has a half-life of around six hours.
The method of ingestion is another important factor in how long it will take for cocaine to leave your system. If you inject cocaine, you may get a very fast high that lasts for a shorter period of time, which means the substance leaves the body faster. When someone injects cocaine, the half-life is around five minutes, which means it would clear from the system within 30 minutes.
For people who snort cocaine, a high may last from 10 to 30 minutes, and it would take just under three hours for it to be completely eliminated in most cases. If you smoke freebase cocaine, the half-life is around 45 minutes. It could take more than four hours for the freebase version to be eliminated from their body.
Cocaine can also be ingested orally. With this method, it can take an hour to feel the effects of the drug, and they may last for 2 hours. The elimination half-life is about an hour, and it could take up to 5 hours for it to be entirely eliminated. It’s important to remember that even after cocaine is eliminated, the body produces active metabolites from the cocaine that can still create effects and be detected for a long period after use.
What happens if you are caught with cocaine ?
If you are caught illegally possessing cocaine, you will face legal consequences including arrest, jail time, a life-long criminal record, and financial penalties.
Possession of cocaine for recreational use is illegal throughout the United States, regardless of form. Penalties for possession include legal and financial repercussions, such as arrest, driver’s license suspension, court fines, mandatory rehabilitation programs, and incarceration.
Cocaine is classified by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a schedule II narcotic. Cocaine is a stimulant narcotic with euphoric and extremely addictive qualities. Criminal penalties associated with the possession and distribution of schedule II controlled substances vary by state and are primarily dependent upon the amount of the substance within an individual’s possession at the time of the arrest.
Crimes associated with cocaine
The use. possession, distribution, sale, and trafficking of cocaine are serious crimes.
Depending on the quantity in an individual’s possession, how the substance was acquired, and the established intent of possession, state-level criminal penalties for cocaine vary. The range of penalties includes misdemeanor charges for small amounts and serious felony charges for large amounts, intent to distribute, and trafficking. Misdemeanor offenses often result in probation, court fines, and short periods of incarceration. Felony offenses can potentially lead to up to 20 years imprisonment depending upon the severity of the offense.
Specific cocaine offenses, such as trafficking, are considered as violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act and are prosecuted as federal felony offenses. These offenses can burden an individual with a fine of between $1 million to $50
million, and prison time from 20 years to life. Individuals with at least one prior trafficking conviction are subject to additional penalties of between $2 and $75 million and concurrent life sentences.
Can cocaine cause kidney stones ?
Yes, cocaine can indirectly cause kidney stones because the drug impacts your body’s fluid level. Your kidneys need a specific amount of fluid to function correctly and prevent kidney stones. Cocaine causes the kidneys to work harder, thus increasing the likelihood that kidney stones develop. Additionally, cocaine use is known to be toxic and can affect kidney health in other ways.
Kidney stones are uncomfortable experiences that most people would like to avoid. Cocaine use can increase the chance that kidney stones develop. Consider the following key points regarding cocaine and kidney stones:
Cocaine can indirectly cause kidney stones
Kidneys are the body’s natural filter for toxins
Cocaine dehydrates the body and increases blood pressure
Your kidney must be functioning properly to stop the formation of kidney stones Drink eight. 8-oz. glasses of water each day to help prevent kidney stones Eat a diet low in salt and high in calcium to help prevent kidney stones How Does Cocaine Cause Kidney Stones?
Does cocaine cause infertility ?
Yes. cocaine use can cause fertility issues for both men and women. Cocaine can disrupt the ovulation cycle for women and mens’ sperm counts. It is also known to cause congenital disabilities (birth defects) and miscarriages when used during pregnancy. To avoid these fertility-related complications, expectant mothers and their partners are advised not to use harmful substances like cocaine.
Several key takeaways about cocaine use and fertility include:
Cocaine can cause infertility in both men and women
Cocaine has been shown to lower sperm count in men
Cocaine increases prolactin levels during use and withdrawal. Prolactin is a hormone that alters the menstrual cycle and can stop ovulation.
Never use cocaine while pregnant, it can cause permanent congenital disabilities (birth defects) or miscarriage