Drug Test Cheating Hits 30-Year High, Quest Diagnostics Warns

May 30, 2024 — Source: ISHN via Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index

According to a new report from Quest Diagnostics, cheating on workplace drug tests is on a dramatic rise in the U.S., reaching levels not seen in over three decades. The 2023 Drug Testing Index analyzed nearly 9.8 million samples and found a 633% increase in substituted urine specimens over the previous year — jumping from just 0.015% in 2022 to 0.11% in 2023. For an in-depth look at how false positives in California prisons have the lab under fire, see our deep dive on the Drug Test Disaster at Quest Diagnostics.

This spike in tampered tests coincides with a 5.7% positivity rate for at least one substance in the general workforce — a rate that has remained steady since 2022, but is significantly higher than historic norms. Quest also found a 45.2% rise in invalid urine specimens, suggesting a broader trend of workers attempting to game the system. In fact, questions around internal handling led to allegations of a worker falsifying drug-test records at one facility.

Marijuana Positivity Leading the Charge

In states where recreational cannabis is legal, Quest noted continued growth in marijuana positivity rates — particularly in professional, office-based sectors. Finance and Real Estate workers saw increases exceeding 20% in 2023, with nationwide post-accident marijuana positivity rates hitting 7.5%. For those wondering whether lab-calibrated substitutes really slip past Quest’s checks, our analysis on does synthetic urine work at Quest Diagnostics? digs into the data.

Interestingly, federally regulated, safety-sensitive industries — such as transportation and aviation — saw a slight decrease in marijuana positives, falling to 0.95%.

Substances on the Radar

• Opiates — Down
• Cocaine — Up 9.1%
• Amphetamines — Flat
• PCP — Not highlighted, but still banned and detectable

Post-accident drug positivity rates have risen more than 114% since 2015, underscoring the growing concern that employees under the influence may pose increasing safety risks in the workplace.

"The increased rate of both substituted and invalid specimens indicates that some American workers are going to great lengths to attempt to subvert the drug testing process." — Dr. Suhash Harwani, Quest Diagnostics

In response to these findings, experts like Katie Mueller of the National Safety Council are calling for stronger testing policies and education on drug use risks. “Cheating on drug tests not only undermines workplace safety but also jeopardizes the safety of society as a whole,” Mueller said.

Quest’s annual Drug Testing Index is one of the most comprehensive studies on workforce substance use trends in the U.S., and this year’s findings point toward a serious challenge for employers, HR departments, and regulators alike.

Read the full original article via ISHN: Quest Diagnostics Report.