The length of time a cocaine high last depends on the person. Generally a high starts almost immediately and can last up to a couple hours.[1] It sounds simple, but there’s a lot going on behind the scenes. Once someone ingests cocaine, whether by smoking, snorting, or intravenously, it immediately starts affecting the brain. Basically, cocaine disrupts the brain’s normal communication between neurons. Therefore, this causes an inundation of the “feel-good” chemicals, such as dopamine and serotonin.
Excessive dopamine build up is what causes the intense feeling of euphoria that we call high.[2] It also serves as a stimulant, promoting excessive energy and excited talking. In addition to affecting the user’s brain, crack cocaine can also have some negative effects on the body as a whole. The duration of the effect depends on many factors, including:
- User’s state of health condition
- Duration of use
- Purity of the drug
How Long Do The Effects of Cocaine Last?
While some effects of cocaine wear off within 15 minutes, there are also effects that can last for several hours after ingesting. Here’s a rundown, broken up by immediate versus secondary effects.[3]
Immediate Effects of Cocaine:
- Anxiety
- Dilated pupils
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Increased body temperature
- Tachycardia (elevated pulse) and blood pressure
- Euphoria
- Increased sexual arousal
- Dizziness
- Loss of appetite
- Increased talkativeness
Secondary Effects of Coke:
- Agitation
- Depression
- Nervousness
- Dysphoria
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Drug cravings
- Itching and scratching
More serious effects can occur if the user takes a higher dosage. These can include psychosis, disorientation, delusions, antisocial behavior, hallucinations, fear, aggression, and increased paranoia.
If you are using crack and cocaine to get high, we urge you to seek help from a specialized rehab facility. This addiction can have severe consequences on your life.
Exactly How Long Does A Coke High Last?
This drug starts working almost immediately however, you might be wondering, “How long does it take for cocaine to wear off?” or “How long is a cocaine high?” The cocaine duration depends on how the person uses the drug (smoking, snorting, IV).[4] Many users smoke crack through a glass pipe. Such a method sends the drug straight to the person’s lungs. When the crack is smoked, the amount of time it lasts in the user’s body is relatively short since it metabolizes fast. The effect will last anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. When users snort cocaine or crack, they start feeling the effects in one to three minutes. Generally, the high can last between 15 minutes and two hours. Whereas, users who use cocaine intravenously generally feel effects immediately, due to the fact of it bypassing the parts of the body that filter out the drug and rather reaches the brain much faster.
Continued cocaine use, no matter the method, can have a severe impact on an individual’s mental health. They may need to seek treatment to help with the cocaine addiction and co-occurring disorders that have developed.
Drug Testing and Crack Cocaine
If you have been getting high on crack or cocaine, you might be wondering how long it can be detected in a drug test. While the crack high might only last minutes, the substance can be detected in your urine for several days. The detection period for this drug will vary based on the test being administered.
Crack Cocaine Testing and Detection Times:[5]
- Sweat – 7to14 days
- Saliva – 1 to 36 hours
- Urine – 1 to 3 days
- Hair follicles – up to 3 months
If you are trying to stop using cocaine because of needing to pass a drug test, be aware of these potential issues. When a person decides to stop using cocaine, the early symptoms of withdrawal begin almost immediately after the high feeling subsides. They include extreme cravings for more drugs, sleepiness, fatigue, inability to experience pleasure, anxiety, paranoia, and irritability. Further, into withdrawal, these symptoms may mold into worsening depression, changes in appetite, feelings of uneasiness, nightmares, sleep problems, and fatigue. If a person is trying to stop using cocaine and can’t, it can be beneficial to look into an individualized substance abuse program.
Are you struggling with a crack or cocaine addiction? We can help. The Last Resort Recovery provides a cocaine addiction treatment program designed specifically for men suffering from cocaine addiction. We’ll lead you on a path to sobriety with our modern substance abuse treatment and beautiful ranch facility!
