![]() And it’s possible that relaxed public attitudes towards drugs like marijuana may influence the decision to drop drug testing programs altogether. We understand in this current economic climate an investment in a drug testing program may not be at the top of the business investment list. Should employers conduct drug testing?ĭata from reports like the Drug Testing Index® and the NSDUH all speak to the bottom-line for employers-the workplace is affected by drug use and their workforce deserves initiatives like drug-free workplace programs to help hire and retain a safe and healthy environment. To simply answer the question, drugs (including marijuana) continue to have an impact in the health and safety of workplaces in all industries, from construction to manufacturing and professional services. “Similarly, in federally mandated, safety-sensitive workforce urine drug testing… post-accident positivity increased 41.9% (3.1% in 2017 versus 4.4% in 2021).” workforce urine drug testing… post-accident positivity increased 26% (7.7% in 2017 versus 9.7% in 2021). This correlation is evident from the data, specifically with post-accident drug test positivity rates, “Over the last 5 years in general U.S. Over 5 years, positivity for marijuana in the general US workforce increased 50% (2.6% in 2017 versus 3.9% in 2021).”īased on the data, there is a possibility that more job seekers and current employees testing positive, means more drug-impaired workers on the job, a potential threat to workplace safety. Regarding marijuana, the DTI found that: “Positivity rates for marijuana in the general US workforce, based on more than 6 million urine tests, continued an upward climb, increasing 8.3% (3.6% in 2020 versus 3.9% in 2021), the highest positivity rate ever reported in the DTI. According to the annual Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index (DTI), the overall positive drug test rate in the combined US workforce (federally mandated and non-mandated drug tests), based on nearly 9 million urine drug tests collected in 2021, was up in 2021 to 4.6% compared to 4.4% in 2020 and up 31.4% from the all-time low of 3.5% just 10 years ago (2010-2012). Marijuana use has a direct effect on the workplace, especially when workplace safety is considered. Is marijuana use having an impact on the workplace? This category defines substances like marijuana as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. It’s evident that use of the drug is up, and many of those same users are employed, fueling the concern shared by employers about how, or if, they can address marijuana use in the workplace.įact: marijuana is currently listed as a Schedule I controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Relying on data from the NSDUH, a report from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and The City University of New York found that, “… rates of cannabis use and daily cannabis use have increased across the US, and current cannabis use and daily use are substantially higher among individuals residing in states that have legalized recreational cannabis use, relative to those where cannabis use remains illegal.” ![]() 2 in 5 young adults 18 to 25 used illicit drugs in the past year 1 in 3 young adults 18 to 25 used marijuana in the past year.” The most used illicit drug was marijuana, which 52.5 million people used. ![]() In the 2022 release of their annual report, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) illustrated the extent of marijuana use in the country “Among people aged 12 or older in 2021, 61.2 million people (or 21.9 percent of the population) used illicit drugs in the past year. Not only is the use of marijuana increasing, the steady, upward trend lines over the past 20 years have painted a clear picture of the popularity of the drug. Coupled with partnering with an industry-leading drug test laboratory, Quest Diagnostics makes it easier for you to continue screening applicants and employees for the drugs, including marijuana, which can compromise the wellbeing of your workforce. We also know the importance of monitoring drug use trends to help employers make informed employment actions that significantly increase the likelihood of achieving their drug-free workplace objectives. We know the answers to these questions are critical to making positive business decisions for your workforce. How should employers build their drug testing programs?.What impact is marijuana use having on the workplace?. ![]() The landscape of marijuana use in the US continues to shift with popular opinion favoring the drug, while employers are left wondering-why test for marijuana? Here are 4 critical questions every employer should be asking when it comes to maintaining a safe and healthy drug-free workplace: ![]()
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