According to the findings of a new report, the drug positivity rate among U.S. employees remained above the 10-year average in 2024, with cannabis remaining the most detected substance in workplace tests, according to a new report.
Specifically, the 2025 Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index findings show that the urine drug positivity rate in the US workforce is at 4.4% in 2024, which is slightly lower than the 4.6% recorded in 2023, but remains above the four percent or higher overall drug positivity rate that was recorded over the last decade.
“When we talk to employers, they tell us the same thing the Quest data tells us – that drug abuse is an ongoing issue among the American workforce,” said Sam Sphar, Vice President and General Manager of Workforce Health Solutions at Quest Diagnostics, in a released statement. “Many also realise that permissive attitudes around drug use can put their non-substance using employees, not to mention the general public, at risk.”
Cannabis continued to be the most commonly detected substance in workplace drug tests, even though its positivity rate dipped slightly to 2.9% in 2024. What’s more, it was also found to be the most commonly detected drug for post-accident drug tests, with a 7.3% positivity rate last year. Fentanyl detection also spiked from 0.48% to 0.55% in 2024, according to the report. It also determined that workforce positivity for fentanyl was 707% higher in random tests compared to pre-employment tests.
“The new Quest data indicates a worrying increase in fentanyl positivity in random drug tests as well as fentanyl drug-combing among the nation’s workforce in day-to-day work environments,” said Suhash Harwani, Senior Director of Science for Workforce Health Solutions at Quest Diagnostics in a statement. “It is disturbing to see increased use of fentanyl on-the-job and in combination with other drugs, given fentanyl’s extreme potency, which can increase risk of impairment, accidents, and potential overdose. It also raises concern that employees are turning to a dangerous drug like fentanyl after they’ve passed a pre-employment drug screen, putting the overall wellness of the workforce at risk.”
The US Department of Labor (DOL) released a statement saying that employers can play a key role in preventing workplace substance abuse through initiatives such as employee assistance and well-being programs, union support, and education on substance use and treatment options. “Employee assistance programmes, health and well-being programmes, and unions can be allies in preventing substance use by supporting employee education on substance use and providing information on how to access help for a potential substance use disorder,” reads the DOL website.
U.S. Federal and non-federal employers with significant federal contracts or grants are required to maintain a Drug-Free Workplace Program, which may include drug testing. According to the DOL, testing not only deters substance use but also provides an opportunity to support and engage employees in recovery when issues are identified.