Stimulant · tropane
Cocaine
aka Coke · Blow · Snow · Charlie · C
Last verified
Cocaine is a short-acting stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca plant. It blocks dopamine reuptake, producing intense but brief euphoria, energy, confidence and a strong compulsion to redose. The short duration and compulsive redosing pattern are the core of why cocaine is more problematic than its acute pharmacology might suggest — most harms come from session length and frequency rather than single doses.
Street cocaine is routinely cut with levamisole (an antiparasitic that causes neutropenia), caffeine, phenacetin and (increasingly in some markets) fentanyl. Reagent testing is non-negotiable, and fentanyl test strips are strongly recommended in regions with known contamination.
Harm reduction
- Always reagent-test. Use the three-stage Scott test (cobalt thiocyanate, acid, chloroform). Cocaine produces blue → pink → blue restoration. The full sequence rules out most adulterants.
- Fentanyl test strips. Cheap, fast, life-saving. The fentanyl-contaminated cocaine supply is real in multiple regions.
- Use your own straw or rolled paper. Sharing snorting equipment can transmit hepatitis C.
- Alternate nostrils between lines. Rinse your nose with sterile saline at the end of the night to reduce septum damage.
- Hard cap on session length. Decide in advance how many grams or how many hours, and stop. Cocaine's redosing pull is the strongest of any commonly used drug.
- Never combine with alcohol. Your liver produces cocaethylene from the combination — more cardiotoxic and slower to clear than cocaine itself. A disproportionate share of cocaine-related deaths involve alcohol co-use.
- Heart symptoms = stop and seek help. Chest pain, jaw pain, severe palpitations, sudden severe headache, weakness on one side. Cocaine causes heart attacks and strokes in 20-somethings.
- Recognize compulsion. If you find yourself digging out the bag for "just one more" repeatedly, the substance is in charge. Have a sober friend hold it. Take meaningful breaks between sessions (weeks, not days).
Dosage.
Insufflated
- Threshold
- 5 mg
- Light
- 10–30 mg
- Common
- 30–60 mg
- Strong
- 60–90 mg
- Heavy
- 90 mg
Oral
- Threshold
- 25 mg
- Light
- 50–100 mg
- Common
- 100–200 mg
- Strong
- 200–300 mg
- Heavy
- 300 mg
| Route | Threshold | Light | Common | Strong | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insufflated | 5 mg | 10–30 mg | 30–60 mg | 60–90 mg | 90 mg |
| Oral | 25 mg | 50–100 mg | 100–200 mg | 200–300 mg | 300 mg |
Start at the bottom. Body chemistry, tolerance, and combinations all matter.
Duration.
Insufflated
total ~ 215 min- Onset
- 1–5 min
- Peak
- 15–30 min
- Offset
- 30–60 min
- After
- 60–120 min
Oral
total ~ 450 min- Onset
- 10–30 min
- Peak
- 45–90 min
- Offset
- 60–90 min
- After
- 2–4h
Effects.
Positive
- Confidence and self-assurance
- Euphoria and stimulation
- Talkativeness and sociability
- Increased motivation
- Suppressed appetite
Neutral
- Pupil dilation
- Increased heart rate
- Increased body temperature
- Vasoconstriction
Negative
- Compulsive redosing ("the line is shorter than you remember")
- Cardiovascular strain (heart attacks and strokes occur even in young users)
- Severe nasal damage with regular insufflation
- Cocaine + alcohol → cocaethylene, more cardiotoxic and longer-lasting than either alone
- Crash, anxiety, depression on the comedown
- Strong psychological dependence potential
Interactions.
Heads up
Many drug combinations are unsafe even at low doses. When in doubt, take less or abstain. Always cross-check with the interaction checker tool.
Dangerous
Combination may cause serious harm. Avoid.
- maois
- alcohol
Unsafe
Substantial risk. Combination not recommended.
- amphetamine
- mdma
- stimulants
- tramadol
Caution
Mild interaction. Use with reduced doses.
- cannabis
- psychedelics
- ketamine
Testing.
- ReagentScott-stage-1Expected reactionBlue (cobalt thiocyanate)
- ReagentScott-stage-2Expected reactionBlue → pink (acid disrupts)
- ReagentScott-stage-3Expected reactionBlue restored (chloroform pulls cocaine back out)
- ReagentMeckeExpected reactionFaint yellow / no significant reaction
- ReagentMarquisExpected reactionNo reaction expected
| Reagent | Expected reaction |
|---|---|
| Scott-stage-1 | Blue (cobalt thiocyanate) |
| Scott-stage-2 | Blue → pink (acid disrupts) |
| Scott-stage-3 | Blue restored (chloroform pulls cocaine back out) |
| Mecke | Faint yellow / no significant reaction |
| Marquis | No reaction expected |
Cross-check with a secondary reagent. Tests tell you what something isn't, not always what it is.
Legal status.
- DEGermanyIllegal
- ATAustriaIllegal
- CHSwitzerlandIllegal
- NLNetherlandsIllegal
- BEBelgiumIllegal
- LULuxembourgIllegal
- FRFranceIllegal
- ESSpainIllegal
- PTPortugalDecriminalised
- ITItalyIllegal
- PLPolandIllegal
- CZCzechiaIllegal but tolerated
- SESwedenIllegal
- DKDenmarkIllegal
- NONorwayIllegal
- FIFinlandIllegal
- IEIrelandClass A
- UKUnited KingdomClass A
- USUnited StatesSchedule II
- CACanadaSchedule I
- AUAustraliaSchedule 9
- TRTurkeyIllegal
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| DEGermany | Illegal |
| ATAustria | Illegal |
| CHSwitzerland | Illegal |
| NLNetherlands | Illegal |
| BEBelgium | Illegal |
| LULuxembourg | Illegal |
| FRFrance | Illegal |
| ESSpain | Illegal |
| PTPortugal | Decriminalised |
| ITItaly | Illegal |
| PLPoland | Illegal |
| CZCzechia | Illegal but tolerated |
| SESweden | Illegal |
| DKDenmark | Illegal |
| NONorway | Illegal |
| FIFinland | Illegal |
| IEIreland | Class A |
| UKUnited Kingdom | Class A |
| USUnited States | Schedule II |
| CACanada | Schedule I |
| AUAustralia | Schedule 9 |
| TRTurkey | Illegal |
Information, not legal advice. Status varies by region and changes over time.
FAQ.
How long does Cocaine last?
A typical oral Cocaine experience peaks around 45–90 minutes and then tails off, with after-effects that can run several hours. The exact window depends on dose, body weight and what else you've eaten or taken.
Can you overdose on Cocaine?
Yes. Higher doses sharply raise the risk of acute harm (cardiovascular strain, hyperthermia, serotonin issues for serotonergic drugs, respiratory depression for downers). Stick to the lowest dose that gives you the effect you're after, never re-dose blindly, and use our [dose calculator](/tools/dosage-calculator) before you weigh anything out.
Is Cocaine addictive?
Cocaine can produce psychological dependence with frequent use, especially in unstable settings or when used to self-medicate. Physical dependence varies by substance class; the safest pattern is occasional use with long breaks (often 4–6 weeks minimum) and an honest read on why you're reaching for it.
What does Cocaine feel like?
Common subjective effects include the ones listed in the Effects section above. Set and setting massively shape the experience: a calm space, trusted people, food eaten, sleep the night before, and your own current mood all matter more than most people expect.
Can you mix Cocaine with alcohol?
Mixing with alcohol is rarely a good idea. it dulls your judgement of how much you've taken, dehydrates you, and stacks cardiovascular load. If alcohol is on the table, drink less than normal, alternate with water, and run the combination through our [interaction checker](/tools/interaction-checker) first.
How do I test Cocaine at home?
A basic reagent kit (Marquis + Mandelin + Mecke for most stimulants/entactogens; Ehrlich for tryptamines) gives you a fast presence check. It does NOT measure dose or purity, but it does rule out the most dangerous misrepresentations. See the [reagent guide](/tools/reagent-guide) for expected colors per reagent.
How much Cocaine is too much?
There's no single number that applies to everyone. As a rule, anything above the 'strong' dose range (200-300 mg for the primary route) carries sharply higher risk of acute harm. Start low, don't redose blindly, and remember that purity varies batch to batch.
How long until Cocaine kicks in?
Onset is typically 10-30 minutes via the primary route. Don't redose because you 'don't feel anything yet.' Many people have overdone it by stacking doses during the come-up window.
Can you build tolerance to Cocaine?
Yes. Regular use builds tolerance, meaning you need more for the same effect. This escalation increases both health risk and dependence potential. The best counter is long breaks between sessions (2-4 weeks minimum for most substances, 3 months for MDMA-class drugs).
Is Cocaine tested for in standard drug screens?
Yes. Cocaine is typically detected under the cocaine metabolites category in standard SAMHSA-5 panels. Urine detection window is roughly 2-4 days (single use), up to 14 days (heavy use). See our [detection guide](/news/how-long-does-cocaine-stay-in-your-system) for full details.