2024 WORKPLACE DRUG TESTING TRENDS REPORT RELEASED

Since 1988 Quest Diagnostics, the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information, releases their Drug Testing Index™ (DTI).  This report examines drug test results from both the general workforce and federally mandated, safety-sensitive workforce (e.g., commercial drivers and airline pilots regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation) to identify drug use trends.

Released May 15, the 2024 Drug Testing Index^TM examines nearly 9.8 million workforce drug tests conducted by Quest Diagnostics in 2023 and provides a comprehensive analysis of workplace drug trends.

5 Key Insights from the 2024 DTI:

1. Positive test rates held steady.

• Overall positivity rates remained at an all-time high of 4.6% (same as in 2022), with positivity rates for some drugs increasing balanced by others decreasing.

• Stimulants: Cocaine increased 9.1% (0.22% in 2022 versus 0.24% in 2023), while Amphetamines positivity remained flat (1.5% in 2022 and 2023).
• Opiates and opioids all continue their downward trend seen over that last five years.
  • 6-AM (heroin metabolite) positivity decreased 16.7% (0.006% in 2022 versus 0.005% in 2023).
  • Opiates (codeine/morphine) positivity decreased 12.5% (0.16% in 2022 versus 0.14% in 2023),
  • Opioids (semi-synthetic opiates) Hydrocodone/hydromorphone decreased 9.4% percent (0.32% in 2022 versus 0.29% in 2023) and Oxycodone/Oxymorphone also decreased 3.6% (0.28% in 2022 versus 0.27% in 2023.

2. Marijuana Continues Upward Climb

• Marijuana positivity as a percentage of all tests in the general U.S. workforce increased 4.7% (4.3% in 2022 versus 4.5% in 2023).
• Over five years, marijuana positivity has increased 45.2%, with 2023 reaching a new peak compared to 2019 (3.1% in 2019 versus 4.5% in 2023).
• States with legalized marijuana show higher positivity rates than states where it remains illegal.

3. Post-accident positive tests continue to rise, especially for marijuana

• Post-accident overall positivity rates for the general U.S. workforce continue to rise (10.3% in 2022 vs. 10.4% in 2023).
• Yet, in 2023, post-accident marijuana positivity in the general U.S. workforce reached a new peak of 7.5%.  This increase follows a steady increase in post-accident marijuana positivity every year from 2012 to 2023 (from 2002 to 2009, post-accident marijuana workforce positivity declined). These increases in post-accident marijuana positivity correspond with legalization of marijuana in certain states. In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize marijuana for recreational use.

4. Office workers have increased positivity rates

• In industries associated with “office work” (doing administrative, managerial, and clerical tasks within office environments) overall positivity rates increased.
• Real Estate and Lending increased by 17.0% (4.7% in 2022 versus 5.5% in 2023).
• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services increased by 9.3% (4.3% in 2022 versus 4.7% in 2023).
• Educational Services increased by 7.9% (from 3.8% in 2022 to 4.1% in 2023
• Public Administration increased by 5.0% (4.0% in 2022 to 4.2% in 2023).
• Marijuana positivity increased in 13 out of 15 industries. The top with industries with highest increases in marijuana positives are
  • Finance and Insurance which increased 35.7% (2.8% in 2022 versus 3.8% in 2023);
  • Public Administration which increased 23.5% (1.7% in 2022 versus 2.1% in 2023); and
  • Real Estate Rental and Leasing which increased 22.2% (5.4% in 2022 versus 6.5% in 2023).

5. Highest rate of drug test cheating in 30 years

• 2023 saw a more than 600% increase in tampering with drug tests among the general U.S. workforce compared to 2022, marking its highest rate in more than 30 years of reporting.
• “The increased rate of both substituted and invalid specimens indicates that some American workers are going to great lengths to attempt to subvert the drug testing process,” said Suhash Harwani, Ph.D., Senior Director of Science for Workforce Health Solutions at Quest Diagnostics.
• Although there are safeguards to help employers prevent a job applicant or an employee who uses drugs from cheating or altering their specimen, this latest analysis from the DTI shows that attempts to cheat a test are on the rise.

The annual Drug Testing Index reports provides invaluable information to help employers make informed decisions about workplace safety, their policies and their testing procedures. The report provides a great opportunity to check your company’s testing results against the national data and can help you think strategically about your Drug Free Workplace program. Of course, Working Partners® is here to help if you are considering changes to your policy.

To read more about Quest Diagnostics’ report, visit their website.