C17H21NO4
Cocaine is habit-forming. It is potentially dangerous when indulged in to excess.
If rats or monkeys are hooked up to an intravenous source of heroin, they will happily self-administer the drug indefinitely; but they still find time to sleep and eat.
If rats or monkeys can freely self-administer cocaine, however, they will do virtually nothing else. Captive animals continue to press their drug-delivery lever for as long as they are physically capable of doing so. Their fate is similar to an intracranially self-stimulating laboratory rodent. Within weeks, if not days, they will lose a substantial portion of their body weight - up to 40%. Within a month, they will be dead.
Urinary Detection Times
SUBSTANCE DETECTION PERIOD
in trace amounts DETECTION PERIOD
resulting in positive test
Cocaine
Benzoylecgonine 2-4 days 2-4 days
Chronic Use up to 3 weeks up to 3 weeks
Amphetamines
Amphetamine 2-5 days 1-3 days
Methamphetamine 2-5 days 1-3 days
Cannabis (THC)
Casual Use 2-7 days 1-5 days
Chronic Use up to one month up to six weeks
Phencyclidine (PCP)
Casual Use 2-7 days 2-7 days
Chronic Use up to 30 days up to 14 days
Opiates
Codeine 2-5 days 1-3 days
Morphine 2-4 days 1-2 days
The world's first drug-testing scandal occurred in 1876. Competitive long-distance walking had become a popular sport. American Edward Weston challenged the English champion to a 24 hour race. The contest was held at the Agricultural Hall in the North London Borough of Islington. The effete Englishman gave up after a mere 14 hours and 66 miles. The American carried on walking for the full 24 hours and 110 miles. It later transpired that Weston had being chewing coca leaves - "Peruvian marching powder" - throughout the race. There was an outcry; but Weston kept his title.