Drugged labor

A study by Quest Diagnostics Inc. shows that Hawaii, Arkansas and Oklahoma lead the nation in methamphetamine use in the workforce.

The Madison, N.J.-based diagnostic testing company based its findings n more than 4.5 million urine specimens collected from the general U.S. workforce from January-December 2010.

According to Quest, the study suggests that several Western and Midwestern states register dramatically higher workforce positive prevalence rates for methamphetamine than the national average. The report also shows that while efforts around the country to control availability of the highly addictive substance and educate against its use may be making progress in some areas, the drug’s attraction among U.S. workers may be moving eastward.

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug stimulant. The substance produces short, intense periods of euphoria, alertness, concentration, and energy as well as irritability, restlessness and aggressiveness, among other effects. Methamphetamine is also known for its intense withdrawal symptoms, including fatigue and depression, which can last for weeks and months in chronic users.

Other results from the Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index show that positive workforce drug tests for cocaine in the general U.S. workforce continued to decline in 2010 vs. 2009, down 13.8% (0.25% vs. 0.29%) and down 65% (0.25% vs. 0.72%) during the five-year period 2006-2010. However, positive workforce drug tests for amphetamine in the U.S. general workforce continued to increase in 2010 vs. 2009, up 15.8% (0.57% vs. 0.66%) and up 57% (0.42% vs. 0.66%) during the five-year period

Among the 42 states with sufficient data to compare to the national average for positive workplace drugs tests for methamphetamine in 2010, those notably above were:
Hawaii – 410% greater than the national average

Arkansas – 280% greater than the national average

Oklahoma – 240% greater than the national average

Nevada – 180% greater than the national average

California – 140% greater than the national average

Wyoming – 130% greater than the national average

Utah – 120% greater than the national average

Arizona – 100% greater than the national average

Kansas – 80% greater than the national average

OTHER INDEX FINDINGS
• While overall positivity for methamphetamine use in the U.S. general workforce dropped dramatically from 0.18% in 2006 to 0.11% in 2008, the decline in the drug’s use appears to have halted thereafter, with a 0.10% positivity rate in both 2009 and 2010. Regional analysis of the same five-year period suggests that some high prevalence areas may be showing improvement while others are rising in comparison to the national average in recent years.

• The Eastern border of the nation so far remains relatively insulated from methamphetamine prevalence in the workforce. New York fared well below the national average in 2010, as did Washington DC, and Massachusetts. Methamphetamine prevalence in Georgia was 20% higher than the national average.

• Recently, cross-border drug cartels have been reported to be operating highly productive "superlabs" that are creating new access points to methamphetamine in the U.S.

• New methods for making small amounts of methamphetamine have proliferated in the U.S., creating unprecedented mobility in the domestic "meth lab." Attempts to control the availability of over-the-counter medications used in methamphetamine production persist, but do not appear to date to have completely curbed the illicit manufacturing.