One in Five American Workers Tested Had a Positive Hair Drug Test in 2025, Signaling Persistent Long-Term Substance Use Patterns
Rhea-AI Summary
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) reported that 19.1% of general U.S. workers tested via hair in 2025 were drug-positive, up from 13.1% in 2021, according to its 2026 Drug Testing Index. Marijuana hair positivity reached 15.1%, a 58.9% increase over five years and 52.5% of all hair positives.
Overall urine drug positivity in the workforce was 4.3% in 2025, slightly below 4.4% in 2024 but above 4% for more than a decade. Marijuana positivity was 4.4% in urine, 11.1% in oral fluid, and 15.1% in hair. Healthcare showed the highest industry positivity at 5.8%, with retail trade and professional and technical services also elevated. Fentanyl positivity in the general workforce declined 49.1% year over year, from 0.55% in 2024 to 0.28% in 2025.
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News Market Reaction – DGX
In the Jul 10 session, DGX declined 0.29%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 08 | IT integration news | Positive | -2.0% | Integration of oncology testing into Flatiron OncoEMR for wider clinician access. |
| Jun 24 | Regulatory approval | Positive | +3.0% | New York State CLEP approval extending Haystack MRD availability to all states. |
| Jun 18 | Clinical study data | Neutral | -1.4% | Publication of nationwide study on multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infections. |
| Jun 17 | Earnings date notice | Neutral | -1.6% | Scheduling announcement for second quarter 2026 financial results release and call. |
| Jun 16 | ESG report | Neutral | -0.6% | Release of 2025 Corporate Responsibility Report detailing access and sustainability goals. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent Quest news has produced modest moves, with one notable selloff following otherwise constructive operational updates.
Key Terms
benzoylecgonine medical
oral fluid testing technical
schedule iii regulatory
controlled substances act (csa) regulatory
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
- Hair test positivity among American workers reached
19.1% in 2025, potentially reflecting recurring or chronic drug use 15.1% of workers screened for drugs using a hair test were positive for marijuana – up58.9% from five years ago- Overall workforce urine drug positivity remained above
4% for more than a decade - Healthcare workers scored highest for overall drug positivity, at
5.8% ; retail trade had the highest marijuana positivity among worker categories, at7.6% - Fentanyl positivity declines by nearly half in the general
U.S . workforce
Over the past five years, overall hair test positivity for marijuana increased
Marijuana also accounted for
The findings suggest that a sizeable minority of the American workforce uses drugs, principally marijuana, on a recurring or chronic basis. While traditional urine testing methods only capture drug use within a window of several hours or days, hair analysis provides an extended detection window that delivers a long-term history of substance use patterns over extended periods, offering insights into ongoing drug use behaviors.
"These findings demonstrate the importance of a comprehensive approach to impairment mitigation in the workplace," said Claire Bryant, Senior Program Manager of Workplace Wellbeing at the National Safety Council. "Employers play a critical role in addressing the root causes of substance misuse through supportive policies, benefits and recovery."
In addition to marijuana, hair test positivity for other substances also increased. In the general
Overall workforce drug positivity holds above
Drug use positivity for the combined workforce held at
Marijuana continues to be the primary driver of positive drug tests across all specimen types and workforce segments.
In the general
In April 2026, the acting
Oral fluid testing showed substantially higher positivity rates than urine for marijuana, at
Oral fluid positivity rates for random testing rose to
Oral fluid testing has a shorter detection window, typically capturing very recent use, within hours, which may make it useful in post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and some random testing situations where recent use is a particular concern. Hair testing has the longest detection window, often reflecting patterns of repeated or chronic drug use over approximately 90 days, which can provide a broader view of longer-term substance use patterns. Urine testing generally detects drug use over the previous several days and is commonly used in workplace drug testing programs because of its long-standing role in employment testing.
Hair and oral fluid testing use collection methods that are substantially more resistant to tampering or substitution than urine testing, helping provide a clearer, more reliable picture of actual substance use patterns. Previous Quest Diagnostics DTI reports describe heightened substituted and invalid specimen positivity in urine testing, indicating that some
"Hair and oral fluid testing not only capture different windows of use but are also more resistant to tampering and substitution than traditional methods. This gives employers more accurate insight into safety risks," said Jason S. Hudson, PhD, Scientific Director and Laboratory Director, Workforce Solutions, for Quest Diagnostics. "That matters because substance use in the workplace doesn't just affect productivity; it can directly impact safety, decision-making, and the well-being of employees, particularly in safety-sensitive roles where even small lapses can have serious consequences."
Positivity varies by industry, with healthcare showing the highest positivity rate amid workforce growth
Industry-level data shows that drug positivity is not evenly distributed across the general workforce, with certain sectors facing higher rates and therefore potentially greater risk. Positive rates remained elevated in sectors such as Retail Trade (
In 2025, overall positivity in the healthcare sector reached
Fentanyl workforce positivity drops
The company's report also highlights areas of progress, particularly in fentanyl positivity. Year-over-year fentanyl positivity declined by nearly half (
"We're encouraged to see this significant decline in workforce fentanyl positivity, which reflects the collective impact of ongoing efforts to protect and champion employee health and safety," said Ms. Bryant.
About Quest Diagnostics Workforce Health Solutions
Through its Workforce Health Solutions (WHS), Quest Diagnostics is a leading provider of laboratory testing and other services designed to optimize the health, safety, and well-being of employees. Quest Diagnostics' WHS include population health and biometric and laboratory screening services to identify and act on disease risks in the earliest stages; workplace drug testing services to help identify and pre-empt dangerous workplace drug use; and OSHA-required laboratory screening and vaccination services. Based on the industry-leading diagnostics expertise of Quest Diagnostics, our solutions incorporate the latest science, technology and innovations in laboratory medicine and healthcare management to reveal the actions that will improve workforce health, for better medical care and lower costs. For more information, visit WorkforceHealthSolutions.com.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics works across healthcare to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We connect people, from clinicians to consumers, with laboratory insights that illuminate a path to better health. With a focus on delivering smarter, simpler testing, we help reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, empower healthy behaviors, and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics serves half the physicians and hospitals in the United States and one in three American adults each year, and our nearly 57,000 employees work together to deliver diagnostic insights that inspire actions to transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com
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SOURCE Quest Diagnostics