Contents
- Introduction
- How To Get Crack Out Of Your System?
- How Long Does Crack Stay in Your Urine?
- How Long Does Crack Stay in Your Hair?
- How Long Does Crack Stay in Your Saliva?
- How Long Does Crack Stay in Your Blood?
- How Long Does It Take for Crack to Take Effect?
- Half-Life of Crack
- Peak Levels of Crack
- Types of Crack Testing
Introduction
Crack cocaine, better known as "crack," is a powerful and highly addictive stimulant that comes in a form derived from cocaine. It has a very strong, short-lived high and has a severe impact on the brain. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over 5 million people in the U.S. used cocaine in 2020; with many using its more potent form, crack.
Since crack is normally smoked, its effects kick in a lot faster; however, various factors influence how long it stays in the system.
How To Get Crack Out Of Your System?
There isn't any quick way to completely remove crack cocaine from your system. The body will naturally eliminate the drug over time, but good hydration, a proper diet, and physical activity can enhance general health in that period.
It is important to note that crack cocaine withdrawal could be intense, and professional help, like that related to the outpatient rehabilitation programs at Nuview, greatly enhances the chances of successful recovery.
How Long Does Crack Stay in Your Urine?
Crack can be traced in the urine from 1 to 4 days after use. In heavy users or for those people with slower metabolism, the traces may even remain as long as two weeks.
How Long Does Crack Stay in Your Hair?
Hair testing allows for a very long detection window for crack cocaine use. Crack and its metabolites can be detected within the hair follicles for as long as 90 days following last use. Hair tests are very reliable; however, there is a possibility of false positives due to environmental exposure.
How Long Does Crack Stay in Your Saliva?
Saliva tests can detect crack cocaine for a rather short period; usually up to 24 hours after use. It is also the usual means of determining recent use in medical or health settings. Saliva tests are somewhat non-invasive and easy to conduct, but they have a very narrow window of detection compared with other testing options, like urine or hair.
How Long Does Crack Stay in Your Blood?
Crack cocaine is present in the blood for only a relatively short time, from 2 to 12 hours after use. Blood tests are not typically conducted except when the test can be conducted within several hours of the suspected use.
|
Test Type |
Detection Window |
|
Urine |
1 to 4 days |
|
Hair |
Up to 90 days |
|
Saliva |
Up to 24 hours |
|
Blood |
Variable, 2 to 12 hours |
How Long Does It Take for Crack to Take Effect?
The onset of action of crack is different depending on how it's consumed. When smoked, the effects begin to appear within 10 to 15 seconds, while snorting takes about 1-3 minutes. Injections almost have an instantaneous effect since the medication directly enters the blood.
Regardless of the method used, the high lasts for only about 5 to 10 minutes, but its effects on the brain and body can be severe.
Half-Life of Crack
Crack cocaine has a pretty short half-life of 15 minutes; that's how long it takes for the body to eliminate half of the dosage. In such a short time, the drug is broken down by the body, but its metabolites may remain in it for much longer.
Peak Levels of Crack
The peak effects of crack are immediate, a minute or two after smoking, and show a high that rapidly develops but then fades just as quickly.
Many users experience peak effects in 10 to 15 seconds, which can lend toward the potential for crack addiction due to its speedy, though short-lived, euphoric experience. That quick peek may encourage frequent use, raising the risk of dependence and overdose.
Types of Crack Testing
Detection of crack in the body depends upon the kind of drug test used because all these methods have different particular detection windows:
-
Urine Test:
The urinary test is the most common way to detect crack cocaine in your system. -
Hair Test:
Hair tests typically have a very long detection window. Because hair grows at such a slow rate, crack can occasionally be detectable even longer, depending on how fast the hair has grown and how frequently someone is taking drugs. -
Saliva Test:
They are easy to conduct and thus have been widely used in healthcare or legal settings for the detection of recent drug use. -
Blood Test:
It is detectable only for a short window of time in the blood. Considering the nature of crack, blood tests are often reserved for recent consumption cases.
Dr. Ryan Peterson, MD, specializes in Addiction Medicine and Pain Management in Los Angeles, with advanced training from The George Washington University, St. Vincent's Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, and UCLA Hospital. Currently accepting new patients.
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Written By
Dr Ryan Peterson