Increasingly American employees are experimenting with weed.
A report from Quest Diagnostics, office drug screenings, finds that of the over 6 million exams the corporate carried out final 12 months, 4.3% got here again optimistic, in comparison with 3.9% in 2021. That’s the best optimistic price for the drug since 1997.
On the similar time, amphetamine use was additionally on the rise, with utilization climbing 15.4% over the 2021 numbers. Some 1.5% of the screenings examined optimistic in 2022 in comparison with 1.3% in 2021. (The information doesn’t differentiate between prescription drugs and unlawful drug use.)
“This historic rise appears to correspond with sharp will increase in positivity for marijuana in each pre-employment and post-accident drug exams, suggesting that altering societal attitudes about marijuana could also be impacting office behaviors and placing colleagues in danger,” mentioned Keith Ward, basic supervisor and vice chairman for employer options at Quest Diagnostics in an announcement. “The rise in amphetamines positivity can also be notable, given the addictive potential and well being dangers related to this class of medicine.”
When exams occurred after office accidents, the positivity price of marijuana utilization jumped to 7.3%, in comparison with 6.7% in 2021
The mixed optimistic price for all medication stayed regular at 4.6%, as soon as once more tying the best price since 2001—and 30% above the file low, which occurred from 2010-2012. Between 2012 and 2022, says Quest, post-accident marijuana positivity elevated 204.2%.
The rise within the basic U.S. workforce started the identical 12 months leisure marijuana was legalized in some states. At present, greater than half the nation’s inhabitants lives in states the place marijuana is authorized, whether or not recreationally or medicinally. Solely 12 states nonetheless have legal guidelines fully banning its utilization.
