According to data obtained by Quest Diagnostics, the number of U.S. employees who allegedly tampered with their drug tests increased by more than six times in 2023 compared to the previous year. This surge represents the highest rate recorded in over 30 years.
“Some American workers are going to great lengths to attempt to subvert the drug testing process,” a senior director at Quest Diagnostics said.
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Approximately 5.5 million drug tests were collected from the U.S. workforce, with 6,000 classified as substituted urine specimens. That is an increase of 633% over last year. Substituted urine could mean a person used someone else’s urine, an animal’s or synthetic urine purchased online.
An additional 25,000 tests came back as “invalid,” marking a 45% increase over a year ago. Invalid tests include samples with additives used to hide drug use, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Drug screens with positive results increased in industries associated with “office work.” Real estate and lending saw a 17% increase and professional, scientific and technical services rose by 9.3%. Additionally, educational services rose by 7.9% and public administration increased by 5%.
Marijuana positivity increased in 13 out of 15 industries, with finance and insurance representing the largest jump. That sector saw a 35.7% jump in positive marijuana tests in 2023.
Positive cocaine tests among U.S. workforce members also increased by 9.1% last year. However, positive heroin tests decreased by 16.7%, and opiates followed suit with a decline of 12.5%.
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
MORE AMERICAN WORKERS ARE CHEATING TO PASS THEIR WORKFORCE DRUG TESTS.
ACCORDING TO DATA OBTAINED BY QUEST DIAGNOSTICS – U.S. EMPLOYEES “WHOSE DRUG TEST SHOWED SIGNS OF TAMPERING INCREASED BY MORE THAN SIX-FOLD IN 2023” COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THAT’S THE HIGHEST RATE RECORDED IN MORE THAN 30 YEARS.
“SOME AMERICAN WORKERS ARE GOING TO GREAT LENGTHS TO ATTEMPT TO SUBVERT THE DRUG TESTING PROCESS,” A SENIOR DIRECTOR AT QUEST DIAGNOSTICS SAID.
ABOUT 5.5 MILLION DRUG TESTS WERE COLLECTED FROM THE US WORKFORCE – AND OF THOSE – 6,000 WERE CLASSIFIED AS SUBSTITUTED URINE SPECIMENS — AN INCREASE OF 633% OVER LAST YEAR.
SUBSTITUTED URINE COULD MEAN A PERSON SUBSTITUTING THEIR OWN URINE WITH SOMEONE ELSE’S.. OR IT MEAN USING EITHER ANIMAL OR SYNTHETIC URINE PURCHASED ONLINE.
AN ADDITIONAL 25-THOUSAND TESTS CAME BACK AS “INVALID” – UP 45% OVER A YEAR AGO. INVALID TESTS CAN INCLUDE SAMPLES THAT HAD ADDITIVES USED TO HIDE DRUG USE, ACCORDING TO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.
THE DRUG-TESTING LAB REPORTS POSITIVE DRUG SCREENS INCREASED IN INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATED WITH “OFFICE WORK” SUCH AS:
REAL ESTATE AND LENDING – UP 17-PERCENT…
PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND TECHNICAL SERVICES UP 9.3-PERCENT…
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES UP 7.9-PERCENT…
AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION UPO 5-PERCENT.
MARIJUANA POSITIVITY INCREASED IN 13 OUT OF 15 INDUSTRIES… WITH FINANCE AND INSURANCE LEADING WITH AN INCREASE OF 35.7-PERCENT JUMP IN POSITIVE MARIJUANA TESTS IN 2023.
POSITIVE COCAINE TESTS AMONG US WORKFORCE MEMBERS ALSO INCREASED 9.1-PERCENT LAST YEAR.
HOWEVER — HEROIN POSITIVITY DECREASED BY 16.7-PERCENT AND SO DID OPIATES AT 12.5-PERCENT.
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