Positive workplace drug tests at highest in a decade

Positive workplace drug tests across the nation were at their highest in a decade driven by drugs like pot, ADHD medicine and heroin, according to Quest Diagnostics.

Quest performed more than 9.5 million workforce drug tests last year across the country and reported this week that 4 percent of those came back positive for drug use, an increase from 3.9 percent in 2014.

While a 4 percent positive workplace urine drug test sounds relatively low — it's 380,000 positives out of about 9.5 million tests — 2015 was the third year positive tests increased after a steady decline from 13.6 percent in 1988 to 3.5 percent in 2012. In three years, the percentage has nearly crept back to the 2005 rate of 4.1 percent. A similiar increase has been observed by Quest in other types of drug tests, including oral fluid, blood, and hair.

"Our nationally representative analysis clearly shows that drug use by the American workforce is on the rise, and this trend extends to several different classes of drugs and categories of drug tests," said Barry Sample, Quests's senior director of science and technology, in a news release. "The 2015 findings related to post-accident testing results should also be of concern to employers, especially those with safety-sensitive employees."

Positive post-accident urine drug tests were up 6.2 percent to nearly 7 percent in 2014, which was up 30 percent since 2011.

Marijuana continues to be the most prevalent drug detected in all types of tests followed by illicit use of amphetamines, such as Ritalin and Adderal prescribed for attention deficit disorder, and heroin. Since 2011, marijuana positivity in urine drug tests has increased 26 percent while amphetamines increased 44 percent and heroin 146 percent. Positive heroin results from urine tests for safety-sensitive employees, like truck drivers, has risen 84 percent since 2011.

"This report shows a welcome decline in workplace drug test positives for certain prescription opiates, but a disturbing increase in heroin positives," Dr. Robert DuPont, former director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, said in a news release. "This rise in heroin should concern both policymakers and employers. Substance abuse is a safety risk for everyone."

jison@Gannett.com

Twitter: @JonaIson