The rate of workforce drug positivity hit a sixteen-year high in 2019, according to a new analysis just released by Quest Diagnostics. 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% higher than the 30-year low of 3.5% recorded between 2010 and 2012.

The Quest Diagnostics findings generally align with other research. Drug deaths in the United States rose 5% 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% compared with last year, attributable partly to social isolation and other disruptions caused by COVID-19.

“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.”

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. Marijuana positivity climbed by double digits across nearly all employee testing categories, while opiate and heroin positivity declined.

Methamphetamine positivity rates surge in Midwest

Analysis of more than nine million workplace drug test results showed cocaine and methamphetamine positivity surges in Midwest.

Over the last five years, methamphetamine positivity in the general U.S. workforce testing increased nearly 12% (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% (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.

Between 2019 and 2018. methamphetamine positivity inched up nearly 6 % (0.18% in 2018 versus 0.19% in 2019) in general U.S. workforce tests and fell 6.3 % (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 %) 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 % since 2018 and up 69 % since 2015; while methamphetamine positivity from hair tests, which gauges a pattern of drug use over time, was up 20 % since 2018 and 60 % 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 increases 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% (0.20% in 2015 versus 0.28% in 2019) and in the West by 53% (0.15% in 2015 versus 0.23% in 2019). The Midwest was 20% less than the national rate in 2015 but 3.7 % 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% below the national rate in 2015 to 14.8 % 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% (0.31% in 2018 versus 0.25% in 2019) and 49% 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% over the past year (0.50% in 2018 versus 0.37% in 2019) and more than 45% over five years (0.68% in 2015 versus 0.37% in 2019). Similarly, positivity for oxycodones (oxycodone and/or oxymorphone) declined 21% (0.43% in 2018 versus 0.34% in 2019) over the past year and nearly 55% 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% in urine testing (2.8% in 2018 versus 3.1% in 2019) and 29% 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% (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% (3.3% in 2018 versus 4.1% in 2019) and 78 % 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.

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 % over five years (2.9% in 2015 versus 4.8% in 2019). 

For an interactive map with positivity rates and trend lines by three-digit zip code in the United States, visit DTIDrugMap.com.