Drug Use Hits New Low Among U.S. Workers in 2006, According to Quest...

Drug Use Hits New Low Among U.S. Workers in 2006, According to Quest Diagnostics' Drug Testing Index® -- Lowest levels since 1988 -- -- Significant decline in use of amphetamines and marijuana continues trend from previous year -- LYNDHURST, NJ, March 07, 2007 /PRNewswire/ — A continued decline in drug positivity for the amphetamine class of drugs among safety-sensitive workers, coupled with a decrease in positive marijuana drug test results among the general U.S. workforce, drove workplace drug use to a new low in 2006. These were the main findings of the annual Drug Testing Index® released today by Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the nation's leading provider of employment-related drug testing services. The 2006 Drug Testing Index showed that positivity for amphetamines (positive test results for amphetamine and methamphetamine as a percent of all tests for the substance) declined 20 percent to hit to a new low level among federally mandated, safety-sensitive workers – 0.28 percent, down from 0.35 percent in 2005. Among the general workforce, positivity for amphetamines declined 12.5 percent – from 0.48 percent in 2005 to 0.42 percent in 2006. In addition, the number of positive tests for marijuana, as a percent of the total number of tests for the drug, was down 6.3 percent among the U.S. general workforce compared to 2005 – to 2.38 percent from 2.54 percent. The 2006 Drug Testing Index summarizes the results of more than nine million workplace drug tests performed by Quest Diagnostics between January and December 2006. Overall, the testing data indicated that drug use by employees and applicants fell to the lowest level since Quest Diagnostics began publishing the Drug Testing Index in 1988. Of all urine workplace drug tests performed by Quest Diagnostics during 2006 for the combined U.S. workforce, 3.8 percent had positive results, compared to 4.1 percent in 2005 and 13.6 percent in 1988.

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