Overall Drug Test Positivity Rate Remains at the Highest Levels in a Decade
After analyzing more than 10 million 2017 drug test results, Quest Diagnostics has found that “cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana, drug use by the American workforce remains at its highest rate in more than a decade.”
The combined Regulated and Non-Regulated positive rate was 4.2% in 2017, the same as it was in 2016.There were significant increases in the positive rates for cocaine (up 7% in the general US workforce and 11% in the regulated workforce), methamphetamine in certain areas of the Midwest and the South and, not surprisingly, marijuana increased in states that have legalized use of that drug.
Prescription opioid positive rates have again decreased. This is a hopeful sign as the country battles an opioid abuse crisis.
A very interesting and useful interactive state map can be seen at http://www.dtidrugmap.com/
Drug Screening Compliance Institute; May 2018