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