More Job Applicants Failing Workplace Drug Test

[IndianaToker]

By The Associated Press
Source: Associated Press

Oregon -- Workers and job applicants are failing drug tests at a higher rate this year in Oregon, bucking a recent national trend, officials say. Oregon Medical Laboratories in Eugene, the state's largest drug-testing laboratory, reports a 30 percent increase in the first six months of this year. Marijuana remains the most frequently detected drug, showing up in more than half of all positive tests. But methamphetamine appears to be the fastest-growing illegal drug of choice among workers.

The actual rate of positive test results that indicate drug use increased to 6.9 percent for the first half of 2005, compared with 5.3 percent during the first half of 2004, lab officials said.

The results do not include tests from employers regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, such as trucking firms, which have been required to randomly test workers for drugs since 1989 and have lower positive rates as a result.

The laboratory processes about 150,000 workplace-related drug tests a year, including hiring and random tests.

Nationwide, positive rates for most major illicit drugs have been on the decline in recent years, thanks to effective drug-free workplace programs, experts say.

But amphetamines have been an exception. Five years ago, amphetamines showed up in one of every 400 workplace drug screens, Quest Diagnostics reported. Last year, they turned up in about one of every 200 tests, Quest said.

Officials speculate that a growing state economy is luring formerly unemployed drug users into new jobs.

"It could be we're seeing more people coming back into the labor force," said Art Ayre, a labor economist with the Oregon Employment Department. If so, employers are likely "pulling in more of those people on the margins who have been engaging in this type of activity," Ayre said.

The Oregon unemployment rate stood at 6.7 percent in August, still the second-highest in the nation, but the state's job growth rate also is among the highest in the United States.

Employers also may be doing a better job of giving drug tests in ways that prevent worker drug use from escaping detection, officials say.

"More employers are becoming a bit more capable of testing applicants without giving a large open time window to being tested," said Grant Beardsley, director of drug-testing services at Oregon Medical Laboratories.

Kent Johnson, director of Legacy Metrolab in Portland, the only other federally certified drug-testing laboratory in Oregon, said he also has seen a sharp increase this year, although he doesn't have exact numbers.

Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Published: Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Copyright: 2005 The Associated Press
Link to article: http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread21147.shtml

[guy from 70's]

LOL..........interesting.

My gut reflex is....Oregon is pro med pot...so it would make sence that the other side Might be behind a study to publish for thier cause..

Then something else comes to mind....which makes more sence...now in our days of monkey see monkey do ...

Alot of companies drug test now to "look" more in tune or respectible...to who....we all know...the media.....The general public...isnt pushing for walmart baggers to be drug tested...so what if the guy smokes a joint after work...

That and the cost of drug testing panels have greatly come down....LOL...One more profit based knee jerk...you know the manufacturers were waiting with baited breath for the whole world to be coo if they drug tested.

Personnaly..I dont think anymore people smoke dope then we have for the last 20 years...I have read many "reports" showing decrease in use overall....

this study is Correct....simply because...more testing equals more testies...
20yrs ago drug testing cost big money....most complanies wouldnt pay the cost to know.....now that a test can be bought for 5.00 each... more get tested....more results...more positives....nothings changed its a political smoke screen..