Majority of Americans May Misuse Rx Drugs

(Winter 2017) Quest Diagnostics’ analysis of approximately 3.4 million prescription medication monitoring screenings conducted between 2011 and 2016 provides an updated picture of drug misuse and abuse in the United States. The organization found in its 2016 drug tests that over half of those screened were not taking doctor-prescribed medication as intended. The data also shows that of Quest’s 33,000 samples analyzed for opioids, benzodiazepines and alcohol, over one in five contained both benzodiazepines and opioids, and more than one in ten showed traces of alcohol* and opioids. A small amount tested positive for all three substances. Among those identified as containing heroin, close to one in five also included illicit fentanyl, which, when mixed with heroin, increases the chances of a deadly overdose.

Misuse of prescription drugs was detected widely among both men and women in most age ranges. On a brighter note, Quest’s analysis found that misuse dropped sharply among youth ages 10 to 17. Between 2011 and 2016, misuse rates in this age group fell from 70% to 29%.

*NOTE: These tests samples were gathered for medical monitoring versus workplace testing. As a reminder, best-practice for alcohol testing in the workplace utilizes saliva or breath specimens.