- Opiate Use Increases Noticeably -TETERBORO, N.J., Jul 22, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Increased use of
amphetamines among general U.S. workforce employees was linked to rising
workplace drug use during 2003, according to the semi-annual Drug Testing
Index(R), released today by Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the
leading provider of employer drug testing services in the United States.
Overall, the drug positivity rate increased to 4.5% in 2003 from 4.4% a
year earlier for the combined U.S. workforce. The positivity rate is the
number of positive test results compared to the total number of drug tests
performed by Quest Diagnostics. Quest Diagnostics performed more than 7.1
million drug tests from January to December 2003.
The Drug Testing Index is released every six months as a service for
government, media and industry, and has been considered a benchmark for
national trends since its inception in 1988. The 2003 Drug Testing Index
summarizes the results of workplace drug tests performed by Quest Diagnostics
between January and December. It 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.
Among general U.S. workforce employees, the incidence of positive drug
tests attributed to amphetamines rose by more than 44% in 2003 from 2002,
reaching 0.49% of all drug tests that look for amphetamines among this group
of workers. During 2002 amphetamines positivity was 0.34%. Growth in
amphetamines use during this period represents the largest single-year surge
in amphetamines use documented by the Drug Testing Index during the past five
years. Prior year-over-year increases have been significantly smaller between
14% and 17%.
Drug test data suggest that greater use of methamphetamine among a large
group of general U.S. workforce employees during 2003 may have caused the
increase in amphetamines use overall. For this group of workers, the
incidence of positive drug tests attributed to methamphetamine increased by
more than 68% in 2003 from 2002, reaching 0.32% of all positive drug tests.
During 2002 methamphetamine positivity was 0.19%.
Methamphetamine, a type of amphetamine, is a potent synthetic
psychostimulant drug, most frequently produced clandestinely in the United
States.(1) Methamphetamine production is increasing both in the United States
and in the foreign source areas that supply U.S. markets, according to the
National Drug Intelligence Center's National Drug Threat Assessment for 2003.
The threat posed by methamphetamines will increase over the next year, as a
result of rising availability of methamphetamines in drug markets in the
eastern states, the growing number of states reporting the presence of
laboratories that produce methamphetamine, rising drug purity levels, and
apparent increase in the presence of 'ice methamphetamine,' a highly pure and
addictive form of methamphetamine.(2)
Amphetamines are used by individuals to increase alertness, relieve
fatigue, 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. Indications of possible misuse may include
excessive activity, talkativeness, irritability, argumentativeness or
nervousness.(3)
In addition to growing amphetamines use, the incidence of positive drug
tests attributed to opiates also grew noticeably in 2003, climbing by more
than 25% from 2002 among general U.S. workforce employees. During 2003,
opiate positivity was 0.34% of all drug tests that look for opiates; in 2002,
opiate positivity was 0.27%. The 2003 swing in opiate positivity marked the
single largest year-over-year change in opiate use among this group of workers
since 1999.
The 2003 upturn in opiate positivity was driven by the growing use of
morphine, a type of opiate, among a large group of general U.S. workforce
employees during 2003. For this group of workers, the incidence of positive
tests attributed to morphine use increased by more than 80% in 2003 from 2002,
reaching 0.18% of drug tests that look for opiates. During 2002 morphine
positivity was 0.10%.
Opiates, which are a group of drugs used medically to relieve pain, also
have high potential for dependency and abuse. Examples of commercially
available prescription pain relievers include Tylenol with Codeine(R),
Vicodin(R) and Percocet(R). Opiate dependency is likely if a person is a
frequent user of the drug or even uses it occasionally over a long period of
time.(4)
"Over one year the Drug Testing Index uncovered a dramatic increase in
methamphetamine use among workers, a finding which is consistent with
government reports about clandestine methamphetamine production and widespread
access," said Barry Sample, Ph.D., Director of Science and Technology for
Quest Diagnostics' Employer Solutions division. "Amphetamines use among
general U.S. workforce employees reached an unprecedented high and grew at an
annual rate that we had not seen before. Opiate positivity was also
noteworthy, particularly when compared to unremarkable year-over-year changes
from prior years."
Among federally-mandated, safety-sensitive workers, amphetamines use in
2003 remained relatively unchanged from 2002. Amphetamines positivity
increased slightly to 0.29% of all drug tests that look for amphetamines
between January and December 2003, from 0.28% between January and December
2002.
In 2003 the drug positivity rate for federally-mandated, safety-sensitive
workers remained unchanged at 2.5% from 2002. For general U.S. workforce
employees, the drug positivity rate, increased to 5.0% in 2003 from 4.8% in
2002, driven by growing amphetamines use among this group of employees.
Color graphics of the Drug Testing Index, including regional maps which
show positivity rates by type of drug, are available online at
http://www.questdiagnostics.com to provide more localized workplace drug test
data.
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 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 provides advanced information technology solutions to
improve patient care. Additional company information is available at:
http://www.questdiagnostics.com.
(1) Source: Statement of Karen P. Tandy, Administrator, Drug Enforcement
Administration Before the United States House of Representatives,
Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee for the Departments of
Commerce, Justice, State, The Judiciary and Related Agencies,
March 24, 2004.
(2) Source: National Drug Intelligence Center, "National Drug Threat
Assessment 2003: Methamphetamine," January 2003,
http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs3/3300/meth.htm
(3) 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/
(4) Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse, "Heroin and Other Opiates,"
1986, http://www.well.com/user/woa/fsheroin.htm
The Drug Testing Index 2004 Quest Diagnostics Incorporated.
All rights reserved.
Annual Positivity Rates
(For Combined U.S. Workforce)
(More than 7.1 million tests from January to December 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 %
2003 4.5 %
Positivity Rates By Testing Category
Testing Category 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999
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 4.5 % 4.4 % 4.6 % 4.7 % 4.6 %
Positivity Rates By Testing Reason
(For Federally-Mandated, Safety-Sensitive Workforce)
(More than 1.2 million tests from January to December 2003)
Testing Reason 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999
For Cause 13.8 % 14.3 % 14.4 % 14.8 % 14.0 %
Periodic 0.75 % 0.95 % 1.1 % 1.1 % 1.1 %
Post-Accident 3.1 % 3.3 % 3.6 % 3.9 % 3.7 %
Pre-Employment 2.9 % 2.9 % 3.4 % 3.6 % 3.7 %
Random 1.9 % 1.9 % 2.2 % 2.4 % 2.6 %
Returned to Duty 2.8 % 3.4 % 3.5 % 3.8 % 4.4 %
Positivity Rates By Testing Reason
(For General U.S. Workforce)
(More than 5.9 million tests from January to December 2003)
Testing Reason 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999
For Cause 28.2 % 25.9 % 26.1 % 25.7 % 24.7 %
Periodic 2.2 % 2.7 % 3.4 % 4.4 % 4.5 %
Post-Accident 5.7 % 5.9 % 6.0 % 5.9 % 5.6 %
Pre-Employment 4.1 % 4.3 % 4.4 % 4.5 % 4.5 %
Random 6.6 % 6.5 % 7.0 % 7.7 % 6.9 %
Returned to Duty 5.6 % 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 1.2 million tests from January to December 2003)
Drug Category 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999
Amphetamines 0.29 % 0.28 % 0.29 % 0.27 % 0.26 %
Cocaine 0.59 % 0.56 % 0.60 % 0.64 % 0.71 %
Marijuana 1.34 % 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) 0.03 % 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 5.9 million tests from January to December 2003)
Drug Category 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999
Amphetamines 0.49 % 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 2.96 % 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 0.67 % 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 1.2 million tests from January to December 2003)
Drug Category 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999
Acid/Base 0.37 % 0.45 % 0.32 % 0.16 % 0.46 %
Amphetamines 11.4 % 10.8 % 9.6 % 8.3 % 7.7 %
Cocaine 22.7 % 21.1 % 20.0 % 19.6 % 21.2 %
Marijuana 53.6 % 56.0 % 58.3 % 60.2 % 56.9 %
Opiates 7.4 % 7.3 % 8.5 % 7.8 % 8.0 %
Oxidizing
Adulterants
(incl. Nitrites) 0.52 % 0.90 % 0.82 % 1.4 % 3.1 %
PCP 1.7 % 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 5.9 million tests from January to December 2003)
Drug Category 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999
Acid/Base 0.16 % 0.25 % 0.23 % 0.07 % 0.14 %
Amphetamines 9.0 % 6.7 % 5.5 % 4.8 % 4.3 %
Barbiturates 2.8 % 2.9 % 3.2 % 3.5 % 3.7 %
Benzodiazepines 5.1 % 5.0 % 5.0 % 4.2 % 3.3 %
Cocaine 13.8 % 13.9 % 13.2 % 13.9 % 15.8 %
Marijuana 55.0 % 57.7 % 60.9 % 63.0 % 62.6 %
Methadone 1.6 % 1.2 % 0.98 % 0.89 % 0.45 %
Methaqualone 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.00 %
Opiates 6.3 % 5.3 % 5.5 % 5.2 % 5.1 %
Oxidizing
Adulterants
(incl. Nitrites) 0.16 % 0.48 % 0.51 % 0.88 % 1.6 %
PCP 0.51 % 0.47 % 0.46 % 0.45 % 0.35 %
Propoxyphene 5.0 % 5.6 % 4.0 % 2.5 % 2.0 %
Substituted 0.58 % 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 7.1 million tests from January to December 2003)
Drug Category 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999
Acid/Base 0.18 % 0.27 % 0.24 % 0.08 % 0.16 %
Amphetamines 9.3 % 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 14.6 % 14.6 % 13.9 % 14.4 % 16.2 %
Marijuana 54.9 % 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 6.4 % 5.5 % 5.8 % 5.4 % 5.3 %
Oxidizing
Adulterants
(incl. Nitrites) 0.19 % 0.52 % 0.54 % 0.92 % 1.7 %
PCP 0.61 % 0.58 % 0.59 % 0.56 % 0.44 %
Propoxyphene 4.5 % 5.1 % 3.5 % 2.3 % 1.8 %
Substituted 0.73 % 0.68 % 0.51 % 0.58 % 0.81 %
SOURCE Quest Diagnostics
Investors - Laure Park, +1-201-393-5030; or Media - Jennifer
Somers, +1-201-393-5700, both of Quest Diagnostics
http://www.questdiagnostics.com