New National Drug Testing Report Highlights Continuing Workplace Substance Use Trends

Each year, the Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index® (DTI) provides valuable insight into workplace drug use trends across the United States. The 2026 report, based on millions of workforce drug tests performed in 2025, offers an important reminder for employers: substance use continues to be a workplace safety and productivity concern. While many of the headlines surrounding this year's report focused on hair testing, the report includes data from multiple testing methods, including urine, oral fluid (saliva), and hair testing. Regardless of which testing method your organization uses, the overall message is clear—maintaining a comprehensive drug-free workplace program remains as important as ever.

One of the report's most talked-about findings was that 19.1% of American workers who underwent a hair drug test in 2025 tested positive for at least one drug. It's important to understand what this statistic represents. Hair testing is designed to identify repeated or long-term drug use, generally over the previous 90 days. Unlike urine or oral fluid testing, which are typically used to detect more recent drug use, hair testing provides employers with a broader picture of ongoing substance use patterns rather than recent impairment.

Marijuana Continues to Be the Most Common Drug Detected

According to the report, marijuana positivity in hair testing reached 15.1% in 2025, an increase of nearly 59% over the past five years. As more states continue to legalize marijuana for medical or adult use, overall usage has continued to rise. For employers, however, legalization does not change the responsibility to provide a safe workplace. Employers should continue to follow their drug-free workplace policies consistently while complying with applicable federal and state laws.

The Quest report also identified increases in positive hair drug tests for cocaine, amphetamines, and methamphetamine compared to previous years. One encouraging finding was a decline in urine positivity for fentanyl, which dropped nearly 50% from 2024 to 2025. While this is positive news, fentanyl and other illicit substances continue to pose serious risks for employers and employees alike.

Claire Bryant, Senior Program Manager of Workplace Wellbeing at the National Safety Council, summarized it well:

"These findings demonstrate the importance of a comprehensive approach to impairment mitigation in the workplace. Employers play a critical role in addressing the root causes of substance misuse through supportive policies, benefits and recovery."

What Does This Mean for Your Organization?

Statistics alone don't tell the whole story, but they do reinforce the importance of having a strong drug-free workplace program. An effective program goes well beyond drug testing. It includes:

• A comprehensive, legally defensible drug-free workplace policy.

• Consistent testing procedures that fit your organization's needs.

• Employee Education & Supervisor training to recognize and properly document reasonable suspicion.

• Clear communication so employees understand expectations and company policies.

• Trusted testing partners who provide reliable, timely, and accurate services.

Drug testing is one tool in an effective workplace safety program—but it works best when it's supported by clear policies, education, and consistent procedures.

The latest Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index® reminds us that workplace substance use remains a challenge across industries. Whether your company utilizes urine, oral fluid (saliva), or hair testing, the goal remains the same: helping employers maintain safe, healthy, and productive workplaces. As Quest Diagnostics noted in this year's report, "Hair test positivity among American workers reached 19.1% in 2025, potentially reflecting recurring or chronic drug use."

Rather than viewing these statistics as a cause for alarm, employers should view them as an opportunity to evaluate their own drug-free workplace program. Is your policy current? Have supervisors received training? Are your testing procedures consistent? Do employees clearly understand your expectations?

At Working Partners®, we help employers confidently answer "yes" to those questions. Whether you need a legally defensible drug-free workplace policy, ongoing support through our consortium membership, with access to our trusted network of vendors and partners, we're here to help. Our goal is to make managing your drug-free workplace program easier, giving you the tools, guidance, and resources you need to protect your employees, your business, and your bottom line.

If you have questions about the report results or any aspect of your drug-free workplace program, don't hesitate to reach out. Give us a call or send us an email—we're here to help you navigate it every step of the way. When you partner with Working Partners®, you gain more than a service provider; you gain a trusted partner committed to your success. You're never alone—we're just a phone call or email away.

614-337-8200

info@workingpartners.com

Source: Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index® 2026 Workforce Drug Positivity Report, released July 2026. You can read the full report by clicking the hyperlink above.