| Drug Use Among Workers Declines to 17-year Low in | | | | Among a large group of general U.S. workforce |
| 2005 - Amphetamines use, which includes | | | | employees, the incidence of methamphetamine |
| amphetamine and methamphetamine, declined | | | | positives of all drug tests that look for |
| significantly among general U.S. workforce employees | | | | amphetamines, declined from 0.33% in 2004 to |
| during 2005, according to the semi-annual Drug | | | | 0.26% in 2005 and to 0.18% in the first five months |
| Testing Index, released by Quest Diagnostics | | | | of 2006. Compared to 2005, this represents a 31% |
| Incorporated (NYSE:DGX)on June 19, 20006. The | | | | decrease in the first five months of 2006, and a |
| findings were based on the results of more than 7.3 | | | | 45% decrease since 2004. For federally-mandated, |
| million workplace drug tests performed by Quest | | | | safety-sensitive workers, the incidence of |
| Diagnostics around the country during 2005. The Drug | | | | methamphetamine drug-test positives declined by |
| Testing Index compares positivity rates for various | | | | 28% during the first five months of 2006, compared |
| drugs by calculating the proportion of positive results | | | | to 2005, reaching 0.18% of all drug tests that look |
| for each drug to the total number of drug tests | | | | for amphetamines. Amphetamines positivity in the |
| performed. | | | | first five months of 2006 is at its lowest point since |
| The Drug Testing Index is published as a public | | | | 2002- 2003 among general U.S. workforce employees |
| service for government, media and industry and has | | | | and federally-mandated, safety- sensitive workers. |
| been considered a benchmark for national trends | | | | Amphetamines belong to a category of drugs known |
| since its inception in 1988. The 2005 Drug Testing | | | | as stimulants, which are used by individuals to |
| Index summarizes the results of workplace drug | | | | increase alertness, relieve fatigue, feel stronger and |
| tests performed by Quest Diagnostics between | | | | more decisive.(1) Amphetamines include the drugs |
| January and December 2005. It examines positivity | | | | amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, |
| rates among three major testing populations: | | | | methamphetamine and their various salts. Chemical |
| federally-mandated, safety-sensitive workers; the | | | | properties and actions of these individual drugs are |
| general workforce; and the combined U.S. workforce. | | | | very similar. Methamphetamine is typically produced |
| Federally-mandated, safety- sensitive workers include | | | | clandestinely for illicit use. |
| pilots, bus and truck drivers and workers in nuclear | | | | "During 2005 we detected a downward trend in |
| power plants, for whom routine drug testing is | | | | amphetamines positive test results in the general U.S. |
| mandated by the U.S. Department of Transportation | | | | workforce and in 2006 the trend took hold among all |
| and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. | | | | U.S. workers," said Barry Sample, Ph.D., Director of |
| In 2005, the incidence of amphetamines drug-test | | | | Science and Technology for Quest Diagnostics' |
| positives declined 8% to 0.48% of all drug tests of | | | | Employer Solutions division. "In the first five months |
| general U.S. workforce employees that identify | | | | of 2006 amphetamines drug-test positives declined to |
| amphetamines use. During 2004 amphetamines | | | | a three-and- a-half year low among both groups, |
| drug-test positives were 0.52%. Among | | | | driven by significant declines in methamphetamine |
| federally-mandated, safety-sensitive workers, the | | | | drug-test positives. This finding could reflect the |
| positivity rate for amphetamines rose by 13% to | | | | increased efforts by federal, state and local |
| 0.35% in 2005 from 0.31% in 2004. | | | | authorities to shut down clandestine |
| Prompted by strong interest from the White House | | | | methamphetamine laboratories." |
| Office of National Drug Control Policy, Quest | | | | Overall, the testing data indicated that workplace |
| Diagnostics performed a preliminary review of | | | | drug use fell to the lowest level since Quest |
| amphetamines drug-test positives for the first five | | | | Diagnostics began publishing the Drug Testing Index |
| months in 2006. Between January and May 2006, | | | | in 1988. Of all tests for all drugs performed by Quest |
| amphetamines drug-test positives among general U.S. | | | | Diagnostics during 2005 for the combined U.S. |
| workforce employees declined by 10% versus 2005, | | | | workforce, 4.1% had positive results, compared to |
| reaching 0.43% of all drug tests that identify | | | | 4.5% in 2004 and 13.6% in 1988. A significant decline |
| amphetamines use. Among federally-mandated, | | | | in positive marijuana drug test results among all U.S. |
| safety- sensitive workers, the positivity rate for | | | | workers drove the decline. Use of marijuana among |
| amphetamines declined by 20% during the 2006 | | | | U.S. workers, as measured by positive drug test |
| period reaching 0.28% of all drug tests that look for | | | | results, decreased by approximately 12% in 2005 |
| amphetamines use. | | | | among all categories of workers compared to 2004. |