Hmmm, shouldn’t the headline read “Detected Drug Use…”?

– Lowest levels since 1988 –

– Significant decline in use of amphetamines and marijuana continues trend from previous year –

LYNDHURST, N.J., March 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — A continued decline in drug positivity for the amphetamine class of drugs among safety-sensitive workers, coupled with a decrease in positive marijuana drug test results among the general U.S. workforce, drove workplace drug use to a new low in 2006. These were the main findings of the annual Drug Testing Index(R) released today by Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the nation’s leading provider of employment-related drug testing services.

Overall, the testing data indicated that drug use by employees and applicants fell to the lowest level since Quest Diagnostics began publishing the Drug Testing Index in 1988. Of all urine workplace drug tests performed by Quest Diagnostics during 2006 for the combined U.S. workforce, 3.8 percent had positive results, compared to 4.1 percent in 2005 and 13.6 percent in 1988.

“We believe this continued decline in workforce drug positivity may be driven by two factors: increased employer vigilance about the impact of workplace drug abuse on liability and the cost of decreased productivity, and the possibility that those who abuse drugs may tend to avoid employment at companies that actively conduct drug testing,” [emphasis mine] said Barry Sample, Ph.D., Director of Science and Technology for Quest Diagnostics’ Employer Solutions division.

GEE, YA THINK??