One in Five US Workers Tested Positive in Hair Drug Tests in 2025

In 2025, the rate of positive drug tests among American workers using hair specimen analysis reached 19.1%, according to the 2026 Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index™. This figure represents a substantial increase of nearly 46% compared to 2021, suggesting a persistent pattern of recurring or chronic substance use.

The analysis revealed a significant surge in marijuana positivity, with hair test results for the substance increasing by 58.9% over the previous five years. Marijuana accounted for 15.1% of all positive hair drug tests in 2025, a notable rise from previous years. This trend contrasts with the overall urine drug test positivity in the general workforce, which has remained above 4% for over a decade.

Hair testing provides a longer detection window, typically up to 90 days, offering insights into long-term substance use patterns distinct from shorter-window methods like urine or oral fluid testing. The persistent positivity rates in urine tests underscore ongoing challenges for employers in managing workplace safety and productivity.

Specific sectors showed varying trends. Healthcare workers had the highest overall drug positivity rate at 5.8%, while the retail trade sector reported the highest marijuana positivity at 7.6%. Positivity for cocaine and amphetamines also saw increases. Notably, fentanyl positivity declined by nearly half in the general US workforce.