Cocaine use in the U.S. workplace declines

New Orleans CityBusiness, Aug 9, 2007

Workplace drug tests conducted by Quest Diagnostics indicate an unprecedented reduction in cocaine use among the U.S. work force.

The Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index: Cocaine Use Among America's Workers showed a 15.9 percent decline from .58 percent in the number of positive drug tests for cocaine in the U.S. work force during the first six months of 2007 compared with .69 percent during the same time in 2006. The combined U.S. work force is comprised of general workers and federally mandated, safety sensitive workers.

Cocaine drug-test positives showed double-digit declines in all but one division of the nation, with the highest declines occurring in the New England area. The division with the second-highest declines in cocaine drug test positives was the West South Central division (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.)

"These data are encouraging," said John Walters, director of National Drug Control Policy. "Cocaine has destroyed thousands of lives in the United States and brought lawlessness and misery to our neighbors. But in recent years, we have had unprecedented cooperation with leaders in Colombia and Mexico. Now is the time to build on this progress.

"While it is too soon to point to a trend, the significant decline in positivity rates in different work force categories and across regions may suggest that our nation's workers are choosing not to use cocaine or that they lack access to the drug," said Barry Sample, director of science and technology for the Employer Solutions division of Quest Diagnostics.

In July, federal intelligence and law enforcement sources reported cocaine shortages in 37 U.S. cities during the first six months of 2007.