Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. Workers Tested Positive for Drugs, Fentanyl Detection Declines
New data indicates nearly 20 percent of American employees tested positive for illicit substances in 2025, a significant increase. Opioid detection, including fentanyl, however, saw a notable decline.
Analysis of workplace drug testing data reveals that nearly 20 percent of U.S. employees tested positive for illicit substances in 2025, a substantial rise compared to previous years. The data from Quest Diagnostics shows increased detection rates for cocaine, methamphetamine, and amphetamines.
Marijuana was the most frequently detected drug, accounting for over 53 percent of all positive tests. This trend is likely influenced by the growing number of states legalizing cannabis and a slower pace for businesses to update their drug policies.
In a positive development, positive tests for opioids, including fentanyl, decreased significantly. Fentanyl positivity fell by nearly 49.1 percent from 2024 to 2025. This decline may suggest that employers' efforts in expanded testing, education, and deterrence strategies are beginning to have an effect.
Despite the reduction in opioid detections, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued new guidance to employers. The guidance urges businesses to prepare for and respond to opioid overdoses in the workplace, recommending that companies stock opioid reversal medication and train staff on its administration.