SECAUCUS, N.J., Aug. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The rate of
workforce drug positivity hit a sixteen-year high in 2019,
according to a new analysis released today by Quest Diagnostics
(NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information
services. Positivity rates in the combined U.S. workforce increased
in urine drug tests, climbing to the highest level since 2003
(4.5%) and more than 28% percent higher than the thirty-year low of
3.5 percent recorded between 2010 and 2012.
In addition to overall increases in workforce drug positives,
specific regions of the United
States, particularly the Midwest, experienced dramatic
increases in positivity for cocaine and methamphetamine as well as
marijuana.
The new findings of the Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index™,
which include an analysis of industry-specific data, were unveiled
in advance of the Substance Abuse Program Administrators
Association (SAPAA) virtual conference taking place on August 25, 2020.
For an interactive map with positivity rates and trend lines by
three-digit zip code in the United
States, visit DTIDrugMap.com.
The Quest Diagnostics findings generally align with other
research. Drug deaths in the United
States rose 5 percent in 2019, driven largely by
methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl, following a decline in 2018.
During the first few months of 2020, drug deaths increased about 13
percent compared with last year, attributable partly to social
isolation and other disruptions caused by COVID-19.i
"There is no question that before COVID-19, rates of workplace
drug positivity were trending in the wrong direction, based on our
Quest Diagnostics data, The enormous strain caused by COVID-19 may
prove to be an accelerant on this disturbing trend," said Dr.
Barry Sample, senior director of
science and technology, Quest Diagnostics. "Organizations will need
to consider the impact of COVID-19 not only on workplace safety but
also as a health concern for their employees for some time to
come."
Positivity rates for methamphetamine surged in the
Midwest
Over the last five years, methamphetamine
positivity in the general U.S. workforce testing increased nearly
12 percent (0.17% in 2015 versus 0.19% in 2019). The Midwest region
experienced year-over-year increases, driven primarily by
double-digit increases in the East North Central region during this
period. Over the past five years, methamphetamine positivity in the
Midwest increased nearly 78 percent (0.09% in 2015 versus 0.16% in
2019). Illinois (0.03% in 2015
versus 0.10% in 2019), Indiana
(0.14% in 2015 versus 0.29% in 2019), Michigan (0.014% in 2015 versus 0.05 in 2019),
and Ohio (0.04% in 2015 versus
0.11% in 2019) increased at least two-fold; while Wisconsin (0.05% in 2015 versus 0.09% in 2019)
nearly doubled.
"While the national debate on drug misuse in the workforce has
focused primarily on marijuana, increasing positivity rates for
cocaine and methamphetamine are also cause for concern," said Dr.
Sample. "Positivity by drug and region can be random and
unpredictable. Our data is a reminder that it is important to
remain vigilant about all drug misuse in the workforce.
Between 2019 and 2018. methamphetamine positivity inched up
nearly 6 percent (0.18% in 2018 versus 0.19% in 2019) in general
U.S. workforce tests and fell 6.3 percent (0.15% in 2018 versus
0.16% in 2019) in federally mandated, safety-sensitive testing.
Methamphetamine positivity changed little in the general U.S.
workforce (up 12 percent) and was flat in federally mandated,
safety sensitive testing over five years.
The increased positivity rates for methamphetamine in urine test
results were bolstered by similar patterns in other specimen types.
Oral fluid methamphetamine positivity, which also assesses recent
use, was up 4.3 percent since 2018 and up 69 percent since 2015;
while methamphetamine positivity from hair tests, which gauges a
pattern of drug use over time, was up 20 percent since 2018 and 60
percent since 2015.
"Testing with multiple specimen types can reveal a fuller
understanding of patterns of misuse than one alone," said Dr.
Sample. "Our data suggests that testing for methamphetamine with
hair and oral fluid may be appropriate for employers with concerns
about misuse of this particular drug to complement the standard
urine drug screen."
Cocaine positivity increased in the Midwest and
West
Cocaine positivity in the general U.S. workforce
testing increased in the Midwest and West regions over the past
five years. Cocaine positivity in the Midwest increased by 40
percent (0.20% in 2015 versus 0.28% in 2019) and in the West by 53
percent (0.15% in 2015 versus 0.23% in 2019). The Midwest was 20
percent less than the national rate in 2015 but 3.7 percent above
the national rate in 2019, suggesting a surge in positivity in the
region last year.
In the West, where cocaine positivity has been historically far
lower, the cocaine positivity rate rose from 40 percent below the
national rate in 2015 to 14.8 percent below in 2019. These
increases in the West were primarily driven by increasing
positivity in Colorado (0.19% in
2015 versus 0.30% in 2019), Nevada
(0.13% in 2015 versus 0.22% in 2019), and Oregon (0.09% in 2015 versus 0.13% in
2019).
Opiate positivity declines throughout United States
In the general U.S. workforce, positivity for opiates in urine
drug testing continues to decline across all opiate categories.
Urine drug test positivity for opiates (primarily codeine and/or
morphine) in the general U.S. workforce declined more than 19
percent (0.31% in 2018 versus 0.25% in 2019) and 49 percent over
five years (0.49% in 2015 versus 0.25% in 2019). Among the more
specific tests for other prescription opiates, the positivity for
the semi-synthetic opiates (hydrocodone and/or hydromorphone)
dropped 26 percent over the past year (0.50% in 2018 versus 0.37%
in 2019) and more than 45 percent over five years (0.68% in 2015
versus 0.37% in 2019). Similarly, positivity for oxycodones
(oxycodone and/or oxymorphone) declined 21 percent (0.43% in
2018 versus 0.34% in 2019) over the past year and nearly 55 percent
over five years (0.75% in 2015 versus 0.34% in 2019).
Marijuana most commonly detected drug in U.S.
workforce
Marijuana continues to top the list of the most commonly
detected illicit substances across all workforce categories
(general U.S. workforce; federally mandated, safety-sensitive
workforce; and combined U.S. workforce, which includes the prior
two populations) and specimen types (urine, oral fluid, and
hair).
In the general U.S. workforce, marijuana positivity increased
nearly 11 percent in urine testing (2.8% in 2018 versus 3.1% in
2019) and 29 percent since 2015 (2.4%). In the Midwest, marijuana
positivity outpaced national increases in positivity in 2018 and
2019. Marijuana positivity increased in the Midwest by nearly 14
percent (2.9% in 2018 versus 3.3% in 2019). The West region also
outpaced national positivity and saw double digit increases, as
compared to the previous year, in 2017 through 2019. Marijuana
positivity increased in the West by 24 percent (3.3% in 2018 versus
4.1% in 2019) and 78 percent since 2015 (2.3%).
"Marijuana continues to be an enduring presence in the U.S.
workforce. Changing attitudes toward its use could pose heightened
risks especially in safety-sensitive positions and those states
exploring legalization," said Dr. Sample.
Positivity rates for heroin continue to decline in general
U.S. and federally mandated, safety-sensitive workforce
testing
Urine drug test results for the general U.S.
workforce for heroin use, indicated by the presence of the
6-acetylmorphine (6-AM) metabolite, declined 33 percent (0.03% in
2018 versus 0.02% in 2019) and 50 percent decline since its peak in
2015 and 2016 (0.04%).
Positivity for 6-AM in the federally mandated, safety-sensitive
workforce declined 15 percent between 2018 and 2019 (0.013% versus
0.011%), with a decrease of more than 45 percent since 2015
(0.02%).
Workforce positivity increases significantly in multiple
industries
The Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index Industry
Insights of general U.S. workforce positivity rates, based on more
than 18 million urine drug test results (between 2015 and 2019),
shows year-over-year increases in overall workplace drug positivity
in 15 of the 17 sectors reported. The Retail Trade industry had the
highest overall positivity rate (4.7% in 2015, 5.1% in 2016, 5.3%
in 2017, 5.4% in 2018 and 5.5% in 2019) across all five years of
the analysis. The Other Services (not including Public
Administration) category, which includes services not listed in the
other categories such as grantmaking, advocacy, and providing
personal services, also had a 5.5% positivity rate in 2019.
The Accommodations and Food Service category had the highest
workforce positivity for marijuana, at 4.8%, a relative increase of
65 percent over five years (2.9% in 2015 versus 4.8% in
2019).
Workforce Drug Testing Webinar
Barry Sample, PhD, senior director of
science and technology, for Quest Diagnostics will discuss the
latest data and analysis from the Drug Testing Index via a webinar
on Thursday, September 10, 2020 at
2:00 PM EDT. 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 results for de-identified laboratory testing 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. 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 47,000 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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i In the shadow of the pandemic, overdose deaths
in the U.S. have soared. The New York Times, July 15, 2020.
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