TETERBORO, N.J., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/- Drug use in the general
U.S. workforce climbed in the first half of 2003, driven by continued growth
in the use of amphetamines, according to the semi-annual Drug Testing Index
released today by Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the leading
provider of employer drug testing services in the United States.
The Drug Testing Index summarizes the results of workplace drug tests
performed by Quest Diagnostics between January and June 2003. The Drug
Testing Index examines positivity rates among three major testing populations:
federally-mandated, safety-sensitive workers; the general workforce; and the
combined U.S. workforce. Federally-mandated, safety-sensitive workers include
pilots, bus and truck drivers and workers in nuclear power plants, for whom
routine drug testing is mandated by the U.S. Department of Transportation and
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
For general U.S. workforce employees, the drug positivity rate, which is
the proportion of positive test results to all drug tests performed by Quest
Diagnostics for this category, increased to 5.0% between January and June
2003, from 4.8% between January and December 2002. At the same time, the
incidence of amphetamine positivity increased by 35%, reaching 0.46% of all
drug tests that look for amphetamine use among this group of workers. Between
January and December 2002 amphetamine positivity was 0.34%.(1)
Among federally-mandated, safety-sensitive employees, overall drug
positivity remained the same during the same period at 2.5%, an all-time low
since 1998. Amphetamine positivity increased slightly to 0.29% between January
and June 2003 from 0.28% between January and December 2002.
"Half the increase in drug positivity among general U.S. workforce
employees was driven by their growing use of amphetamines," said Barry Sample,
Ph.D., Director of Science and Technology for Quest Diagnostics' Corporate
Health and Wellness division. "While the Drug Testing Index did detect
increases in drug use from other drug classes, these increases were
significantly smaller."
Amphetamines belong to a category of drugs known as stimulants, which are
used to increase alertness, relieve fatigue and help people feel stronger and
more decisive. Stimulants are also used for euphoric effects or to counteract
the "down" feeling of tranquilizers or alcohol. Possible side effects of
stimulants include increased heart and respiratory rates, elevated blood
pressure, dilated pupils and decreased appetite; high doses may cause rapid or
irregular heartbeat, loss of coordination or collapse.(2)
Illegal methamphetamine use and trafficking that began during the last
decade is now an epidemic sweeping the nation, according to recently published
Congressional testimony, which outlined domestic and international initiatives
being implemented to target methamphetamine production and distribution.(3)
Methamphetamine is a type of amphetamine.
The drug positivity rate for the combined U.S. workforce, which is the
number of positive test results compared to the total number of drug tests
performed by Quest Diagnostics grew to 4.6% between January and June 2003,
compared to 4.4% between January and December 2002. The increase in drug use
in the combined U.S. workforce was a reflection of growing amphetamine use
among general workforce employees. Quest Diagnostics performed more than
3.4 million workplace drug tests from January to June 2003.
Color graphics of the Drug Testing Index, including regional maps which
show positivity rates by type of drug, are available on-line at
www.questdiagnostics.com to provide more localized workplace drug test data.
The Drug Testing Index is released every six months as a service for
government, media and industry, and is considered a benchmark for national
trends.
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated is the nation's leading provider of
diagnostic testing, information and services, providing insights that enable
healthcare professionals to make decisions that improve health. The company
offers the broadest access to diagnostic testing services in the United States
through its national network of laboratories and patient service centers, and
provides interpretive consultation through its extensive medical and
scientific staff. Quest Diagnostics is the leading provider of esoteric
testing, including gene-based medical testing, and also empowers healthcare
organizations and clinicians with state-of-the-art connectivity solutions that
improve patient care. Additional company information is available at:
www.questdiagnostics.com.
The Drug Testing Index (C) 2003 Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. All rights
reserved.
(1) The Drug Testing Index does not differentiate between drug abuse and
legitimate drug use.
(2) Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSA's
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, Drug
Category Profile: Stimulants,
http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/rpo926/.
(3) Source: DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), Congressional
Testimony, Statement of Rogelio E. Guevara, Chief of Operations, Drug
Enforcement Administration Before the House Committee on Government
Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human
Resources, July 18, 2003.
Annual Positivity Rates
(For Combined U.S. Workforce)
(More than 3.4 million tests from January to June 2003)
Year Drug Positive Rate
1988 13.6%
1989 12.7%
1990 11.0%
1991 8.8%
1992 8.8%
1993 8.4%
1994 7.5%
1995 6.7%
1996 5.8%
1997 5.0%
1998 4.8%
1999 4.6%
2000 4.7%
2001 4.6%
2002 4.4%
January - June 2003 4.6%
Positivity Rates By Testing Category
Testing Category January - 2002 2001 2000 1999
June 2003
Federally Mandated, Safety-
Sensitive Workforce 2.5% 2.5% 2.9% 3.1% 3.2%
General U.S. Workforce 5.0% 4.8% 4.9% 4.9% 4.8%
Combined U.S. Workforce 4.6% 4.4% 4.6% 4.7% 4.6%
Positivity Rates By Testing Reason
(For Federally-Mandated, Safety-Sensitive Workforce)
(More than 600,000 tests from January to June 2003)
Testing Reason January - 2002 2001 2000 1999
June 2003
For Cause 13.6% 14.3% 14.4% 14.8% 14.0%
Periodic 0.76% 0.95% 1.1% 1.1% 1.1%
Post-Accident 3.1% 3.3% 3.6% 3.9% 3.7%
Pre-Employment 3.0% 2.9% 3.4% 3.6% 3.7%
Random 1.9% 1.9% 2.2% 2.4% 2.6%
Returned to Duty 2.7% 3.4% 3.5% 3.8% 4.4%
Postivity Rates By Testing Reason
(For General U.S. Workforce)
(More than 2.8 million tests from January to June 2003)
Testing Reason January - 2002 2001 2000 1999
June 2003
For Cause 27.8% 25.9% 26.1% 25.7% 24.7%
Periodic 2.3% 2.7% 3.4% 4.4% 4.5%
Post-Accident 5.7% 5.9% 6.0% 5.9% 5.6%
Pre-Employment 4.2% 4.3% 4.4% 4.5% 4.5%
Random 6.5% 6.5% 7.0% 7.7% 6.9%
Returned to Duty 5.3% 5.6% 5.3% 5.3% 5.5%
Positivity Rates By Drug Category
(For Federally-Mandated, Safety-Sensitive Workforce, as a percentage of
all such tests)
(More than 600,000 tests from January to June 2003)
Drug Category January - 2002 2001 2000 1999
June 2003
Amphetamines 0.29% 0.28% 0.29% 0.27% 0.26%
Cocaine 0.58% 0.56% 0.60% 0.64% 0.71%
Marijuana 1.39% 1.44% 1.72% 1.92% 1.86%
Opiates 0.19% 0.19% 0.26% 0.25% 0.27%
PCP 0.04% 0.04% 0.05% 0.06% 0.05%
Oxidizing
Adulterants
(incl. Nitrites) 0.04% 0.05% 0.05% 0.10% 0.21%
Substitution 0.06% 0.05% 0.02% 0.03% 0.03%
Positivity Rates By Drug Category
(For General U.S. Workforce, as a percentage of all such tests)
(More than 2.8 million tests from January to June 2003)
Drug Category January - 2002 2001 2000 1999
June 2003
Amphetamines 0.46% 0.34% 0.29% 0.25% 0.22%
Barbiturates 0.29% 0.30% 0.34% 0.38% 0.44%
Benzodiazepines 0.60% 0.58% 0.60% 0.55% 0.50%
Cocaine 0.74% 0.71% 0.69% 0.73% 0.80%
Marijuana 3.02% 2.98% 3.17% 3.29% 3.17%
Methadone 0.20% 0.16% 0.13% 0.13% 0.08%
Opiates 0.34% 0.27% 0.29% 0.27% 0.26%
PCP 0.03% 0.02% 0.02% 0.02% 0.02%
Propoxyphene 0.69% 0.73% 0.52% 0.36% 0.33%
Oxidizing
Adulterants
(incl. Nitrites) 0.02% 0.05% 0.05% 0.10% 0.23%
Substitution 0.03% 0.03% 0.03% 0.03% 0.04%
Positivity Rates By Drug Category
(For Federally-Mandated, Safety-Sensitive Workers, as a Percentage of All
Positives)
(More than 600,000 tests from January to June 2003)
Drug Category January - 2002 2001 2000 1999
June 2003
Acid/Base 0.38% 0.45% 0.32% 0.16% 0.46%
Amphetamines 11.1% 10.8% 9.6% 8.3% 7.7%
Cocaine 22.0% 21.1% 20.0% 19.6% 21.2%
Marijuana 54.7% 56.0% 58.3% 60.2% 56.9%
Opiates 7.4% 7.3% 8.5% 7.8% 8.0%
Oxidizing
Adulterants
(incl. Nitrites) 0.65% 0.90% 0.82% 1.4% 3.1%
PCP 1.6% 1.5% 1.7% 1.7% 1.6%
Substituted 2.3% 1.9% 0.77% 0.77% 0.96%
Positivity Rates By Drug Category
(For General U.S. Workforce, as a Percentage of All Positives)
(More than 2.8 million tests from January to June 2003)
Drug Category January - 2002 2001 2000 1999
June 2003
Acid/Base 0.17% 0.25% 0.23% 0.07% 0.14%
Amphetamines 8.5% 6.7% 5.5% 4.8% 4.3%
Barbiturates 2.8% 2.9% 3.2% 3.5% 3.7%
Benzodiazepines 5.2% 5.0% 5.0% 4.2% 3.3%
Cocaine 13.7% 13.9% 13.2% 13.9% 15.8%
Marijuana 55.4% 57.7% 60.9% 63.0% 62.6%
Methadone 1.5% 1.2% 0.98% 0.89% 0.45%
Methaqualone 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Opiates 6.2% 5.3% 5.5% 5.2% 5.1%
Oxidizing
Adulterants
(incl. Nitrites) 0.22% 0.48% 0.51% 0.88% 1.6%
PCP 0.51% 0.47% 0.46% 0.45% 0.35%
Propoxyphene 5.2% 5.6% 4.0% 2.5% 2.0%
Substituted 0.60% 0.54% 0.48% 0.56% 0.80%
Positivity Rates By Drug Category
(For Combined U.S. Workforce, as a Percentage of All Positives)
(More than 3.4 million tests from January to June 2003)
Drug Category January - 2002 2001 2000 1999
June 2003
Acid/Base 0.19% 0.27% 0.24% 0.08% 0.16%
Amphetamines 8.8% 7.1% 5.9% 5.1% 4.5%
Barbiturates 2.5% 2.6% 2.9% 3.2% 3.4%
Benzodiazepines 4.7% 4.5% 4.5% 3.9% 3.1%
Cocaine 14.5% 14.6% 13.9% 14.4% 16.2%
Marijuana 55.3% 57.6% 60.6% 62.8% 62.2%
Methadone 1.4% 1.1% 0.88% 0.82% 0.42%
Methaqualone 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Opiates 6.3% 5.5% 5.8% 5.4% 5.3%
Oxidizing
Adulterants
(incl. Nitrites) 0.26% 0.52% 0.54% 0.92% 1.7%
PCP 0.61% 0.58% 0.59% 0.56% 0.44%
Propoxyphene 4.7% 5.1% 3.5% 2.3% 1.8%
Substituted 0.76% 0.68% 0.51% 0.58% 0.81%
SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
-0- 11/05/2003
/CONTACT: Media - Jennifer Somers, +1-201-393-5700, or Investors - Laure
Park, +1-201-393-5030, both for Quest Diagnostics Incorporated /
/Web site: http://www.questdiagnostics.com /
(DGX)