Each year Quest shares information garnered from processing over 9.8 million workforce drug screens, serving as a valuable tool for employers and workplace safety.

Based on last year's data, the overall positivity rate continued to climb to historically high levels. Employers are still testing for marijuana despite its legalization in many states, and marijuana positivity rates continue their upward trajectory.

The report highlights several noteworthy trends in workplace drug testing from 2023:

• Professional Office-Based industries saw an increase in positive drug rates.
• The Real Estate and Lending industry positivity rate increased by 17%.
• The Technical Services industry saw a 9.3% increase in positivity rates.

Testing over 5.5 million drug screens showed individuals attempting to dilute, substitute, or otherwise tamper with their samples. There was a shocking six-fold increase in the number of substituted specimens in 2023 versus 2022 data, marking the highest rate in 30 years of tracking.

Overall drug abuse positivity in the US workforce increased by 4.6%, the same rate as the last two years and the highest level in more than two decades. Cocaine use increased by 9.1%. On a positive note, opiate positivity continued to decline, with a 12.5% decrease in 2023.

We encourage you to review the DTI press release which will provide additional details and nuances regarding the state of drugs in the workforce.

Source: Quest Diagnostics 2024 Drug Testing Index Press Release

Posted: May 20, 2024

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