SECAUCUS, N.J., May 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The COVID-19
pandemic did not dampen workforce drug testing positivity for
marijuana, which continued to increase last year in the general
U.S. workforce, according to a new analysis released today by Quest
Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic
information services. This study is thought to be the first
large-scale analysis of de-identified results of laboratory
workforce drug tests performed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The overall positivity rate in the combined U.S. workforce based
on more than seven million urine drug tests collected between
January and December 2020 was down
only slightly in 2020 (4.4%) compared to 2019 (4.5%, a sixteen-year
high). Positivity in the federally mandated, safety-sensitive
workforce based on more than 2 million urine drug tests declined
8.3 percent (2.4% in 2019 versus 2.2% in 2020) but was still 10
percent higher than the 2016 rate (5 years prior). In the general
U.S. workforce, positivity increased 3.8 percent (5.3% in 2019
versus 5.5% in 2020) and was 12.2 percent higher than in
2016.
As positivity for most drug categories, other than marijuana,
declined or remained flat in the combined U.S. workforce over the
past five years, amphetamines (which includes methamphetamine)
persisted at 1.1 percent positive each year.
The new findings of the Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index™
were unveiled to coincide with the National Drug & Alcohol
Screening Association (NDASA) 2021 Annual Conference taking place
May 25-27 in St. Louis, MO.
"Driven largely by surging rates of marijuana general U.S.
workforce positives and steady rates of amphetamines positives, the
rate of drug positivity remained stubbornly high despite seismic
shifts to the workplace caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," said
Barry Sample, Ph.D., senior director
of science and technology, Quest Diagnostics. "However, as we see
upticks in hiring and many employees returning to the workplace, it
is important that employers consider workforce drug testing as a
way to keep the workplace, their customers and the community
safe."
"Impairment, whether it be by drugs, alcohol, fatigue or stress,
decreases the safety of the workforce," said Jenny Burke, senior director of impairment
practice, National Safety Council. "The DTI results, reflecting
decreases in many drug categories, occurred in a unique year. Even
though these are down, we must continue to educate people about the
impairing impacts of these substances. And, as states and the
federal government consider changes to the legality of marijuana,
we can't take for granted that they also understand the impairing
impact of THC. The safety of people who share the roadways and
workplaces with impaired people needs to be a priority."
For an interactive map with positivity rates and trend lines by
three-digit zip code in the United
States, visit DTIDrugMap.com.
Positivity down or flat for most drug categories, but
increase for ecstasy
Urine drug test results in the general U.S. workforce declined
in eight drug categories but stayed the same in two drug categories
(excluding propoxyphene, which was withdrawn from the U.S. market a
decade ago). Positivity for cocaine declined 18.5 percent (0.27% in
2019 versus 0.22% in 2020), the semi-synthetic opiates
(hydrocodone/hydromorphone) declined 10.8 percent (0.37% in 2019
versus 0.33% in 2020), oxycodone group of opiates
(oxycodone/oxymorphone) declined 14.7 percent (0.34% in 2019 versus
0.29% in 2020) and benzodiazepines declined 9.3 percent (0.43% in
2019 versus 0.39% in 2020). While the positivity for MDMA/MDA
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (commonly known as ecstasy)
increased by 25 percent (0.008% in 2019 versus 0.010% in 2020) and
has demonstrated small, year-over-year increases, the positivity
rate remains very low at 1 in every 10,000 (0.010%) tests.
Positivity rates declined in federally mandated,
safety-sensitive workforce testing categories
Urine drug test results for the federally mandated,
safety-sensitive workforce declined in all drug categories other
than phencyclidine (PCP), which remained at 0.011 percent, same as
in 2019. Of note, positivity for marijuana declined 10.2 percent
(0.88% in 2019 versus 0.79% in 2020), cocaine declined 20 percent
(0.25% in 2019 versus 0.20% in 2020), semi-synthetic opiates
(hydrocodone/hydromorphone) declined 14.3 percent (0.35% in 2019
versus 0.30% in 2020) and the oxycodone group of opiates
(oxycodone/oxymorphone) declined 19.2 percent (0.26% in 2019 versus
0.21% in 2020).
Marijuana continued double-digit year-over-year increases in
the general U.S. workforce, with lower positivity rates in states
with only medical marijuana use or no form of legalized marijuana
use versus states with legalized recreational statutes
Marijuana positivity surged ahead in 2020 in the U.S. general
workforce and across specimen types (urine, oral fluid, and hair).
In the U.S. general workforce, marijuana positivity increased 16.1
percent in urine testing (3.1% in 2019 versus 3.6% in 2020), 35.2
percent in oral fluid testing (9.1% in 2019 versus 12.3% in 2020)
and 22.5 percent in hair testing (7.1% in 2019 versus 8.7% in
2020).
The Drug Testing Index data also showed stark differences
between states that have legalized recreational marijuana use
versus states that have only legalized medical marijuana use or no
form of legal marijuana use. Marijuana positivity surged in
states with legal recreational use statutes 118.2 percent from
2012-2020 (2.2% in 2012 versus 4.8% in 2020). In states with only
medical marijuana statutes, marijuana positivity increased 68.4
percent (1.9% in 2012 versus 3.2% in 2020). In states with no
medical or recreational marijuana statutes, marijuana positives
increased 57.9% percent (1.9% in 2012 versus 3.0% in 2020).
"Our data suggest that marijuana positivity has increased
sharply nationwide since states began to legalize marijuana in
2012. However, it appears that states where medical marijuana use
alone is legal are not experiencing much higher rates of increase
than states where neither medical nor recreational use is legal,"
Dr. Sample said.
The positivity rate of post-accident test results grew faster
than the rate of positivity for pre-employment testing
Between 2012, when the first state legalized recreational
marijuana, and 2020, the gap between pre-employment and
post-accident marijuana positivity increased each year. In the U.S.
general workforce, in 2012, marijuana pre-employment positivity was
1.9 percent and post-accident positivity was 2.4 percent (a 26.3%
difference). In 2020, pre-employment marijuana positivity was 3.7
percent and post-accident 6.4 percent (a 73% difference).
"The Drug Testing Index data shows states with recreational
marijuana statutes have significantly higher positivity and the
year-over-year differences between recreational states and states
with medical and no legalization statutes has grown. In addition,
while urine drug testing cannot determine whether an individual is
under the influence or impaired at the time of test, our
post-accident data suggests that marijuana use may play a role in
those workplace incidents prompting a drug test," Dr. Sample
said.
Cocaine positivity lowest since 2012 general U.S.
workforce
Urine drug test positivity for cocaine in the general U.S.
workforce dropped to the lowest level since 2012. Positivity for
cocaine declined 18.5 percent (0.27% in 2019 versus 0.22% in 2020).
Positivity for cocaine over the past five years declined 21.4
percent (0.28% in 2016 versus 0.22% in 2020).
Workforce positivity increased significantly in multiple
industries
The Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index™ Industry Insights of
general U.S. workforce positivity rates, based on more than 17
million urine drug test results between 2016 and 2020, shows
year-over-year increases in overall workplace drug positivity in 6
of the 17 sectors reported. The Retail Trade industry had the
highest overall positivity rates for all drug categories across all
five years of the analysis (5.1% in 2016, 5.2% in 2017, 5.4% in
2018, 5.5% in 2019 and 6.2% in 2020). Accommodation and Food
Services tied with Retail Trade for the highest positivity in 2020
alone (4.7% in 2016, 4.6% in 2017, 4.9% in 2018, 5.1% in 2019 and
6.2% in 2020). The Accommodations and Food Service category had the
highest workforce positivity for marijuana at 6.3 percent, a
relative increase of 96.9 percent over five years (3.2% in 2016
versus 6.3% in 2020).
Workforce Drug Testing Webinar
Barry Sample, PhD, senior
director of science and technology, for Quest Diagnostics, will
discuss the latest data from the Drug Testing Index and an analysis
of workforce marijuana testing via webinar on Wednesday, June 16 at 12
pm EDT/11 am CDT. Click here
to register and attend.
About the Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index™
The Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index™ (DTI) is a series of
reports that provide insights into trends in workforce drug use
based on positivity rates of de-identified laboratory tests
performed by Quest Diagnostics for a range of illicit, legal and
prescription drugs. It examines test results according to three
categories of workers: federally mandated, safety-sensitive
workers; the general workforce; and the combined U.S. workforce.
Federally mandated, safety-sensitive workers include pilots, bus
and truck drivers, and workers in nuclear power plants, for whom
routine drug testing is mandated by the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services.
The strengths of the DTI analysis include its large, nationally
representative sample size, longitudinal monitoring, a testing
population that is generally reflective of the U.S. workforce and
the quality of the company's drug testing services to confirm
positive results. Limitations include analysis only of employers
that perform drug testing with the company, and a lack of exact
cross-specimen comparisons due to variations in substances for
which employers test. Additionally, COVID-19 and regulatory changes
may have also impacted hiring and the way in which employers tested
– for example, in 2020 for the federally mandated safety-sensitive
workforce, the percentage of specimens tested for pre-employment
purposes declined while those for random tests increased. Quest
Diagnostics has analyzed annual workplace drug testing data since
1988 and publishes the findings as a public service.
In addition to workplace drug testing, Quest is a leader in
clinician-ordered drug testing services through its Clinical Drug
Monitoring program to aid the detection of potentially dangerous
forms of prescription and illicit drug use. For more information on
Quest's drug monitoring services for healthcare providers,
visit QuestDrugMonitoring.com
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve
health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of
clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to
identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve
health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult
Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States. Our 50,000 employees
understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our
diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives.
www.QuestDiagnostics.com.
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