(Undated) -- The latest Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index shows a sharp decline in both cocaine and methamphetamine use among U.S. workers. Quest director Barry Sample says this is the first time the company evaluated both hair and urine samples from employees and job applicants to compile the study.
Quest Diagnostics is the nation's leading provider of employment-related drug testing services. Urine samples taken from more than 190-thousand people were tested for the study. Tests on those samples showed a 57-percent drop in positive results for cocaine and meth from 2005 through June of 2009. However, the index showed a 36-percent decline in positives from hair samples tested, which came from the same people during that same time period. Sample says while urine tests can detect drug use in the three days prior to the test, hair sample testing can detect repetitive drug use over the previous 90 days.
Additional audio:
Barry Sample, a director at Quest Diagnostics, talks about some of the illegal drugs employers check for in their employee drug testing programs.
Sample says employee drug tests are showing higher rates of positives for some prescription drugs, such as painkillers like Oxycontin.
Sample says federal data indicates employees who take illegal drugs have higher rates of workplace absenteeism.
Sample talks about the on-the-job safety implications posed by drug abusers.
