The Rise of Marijuana Use and Employees Cheating on Drug Tests
The Changing Landscape of Marijuana Usage
Marijuana usage is increasing and becoming more socially acceptable, especially with evolving marijuana laws. This shift is reflected in recent research published in the peer-reviewed journal Addiction, which shows that more people in the United States report using marijuana daily or nearly daily compared to those who say they are drinking alcohol that often. While “far more people drink” than use marijuana, high-frequency drinking among Americans is less common, the report said. The 2022 survey found that the median drinker reported drinking 4 to 5 days in a month, compared with 15 to 16 days in a month for cannabis.
The study also noted that changing trends in cannabis use “parallel corresponding changes in cannabis policy, with declines during periods of greater restriction and growth during periods of policy liberalization.” However, it stressed that this did not imply a causal link, as “both could have been manifestations of changes in underlying culture and attitudes.”
With the rise in marijuana usage and its growing social acceptance, employers need to be increasingly vigilant about potential workday usage and impairment. The risk of employees being under the influence while on the job poses significant safety and productivity concerns. Ensuring a safe and efficient workplace requires heightened awareness and proactive measures to monitor and address marijuana use during work hours. Employers must be prepared to enforce policies effectively to maintain a safe work environment amidst the evolving landscape of marijuana legalization.
The Increase in Drug Test Cheating
Alongside the rise of marijuana use is the possibility of employees tampering with current drug tests. Traditional drug testing methods can be susceptible to manipulation, making it essential for employers to adopt more robust and tamper-proof testing solutions. By implementing advanced testing technologies and maintaining strict oversight, employers can better detect and prevent attempts to cheat drug tests. This proactive approach helps safeguard workplace integrity and ensures that drug use policies are upheld consistently.
Data from Quest Diagnostics’ Drug Testing Index Analysis shows that, in recent years there has been a troubling increase in employees attempting to cheat on drug tests. The findings reveal that not only is drug usage on the rise, but so is the sophistication of the methods employed by individuals trying to circumvent detection. This has significant implications for workplace safety and productivity, prompting a critical reevaluation of current drug testing methodologies.
One of the most significant shifts in the landscape of drug testing is the growing recognition of oral fluid testing as the gold standard for detecting marijuana usage. Unlike traditional urine tests, oral fluid testing offers a more reliable and precise approach, especially when it comes to identifying delta-9 THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana.
Why Oral Fluid Testing?
As the methods for cheating on drug tests become more advanced, it is crucial for employers to adopt more reliable and precise testing technologies. Oral fluid testing, particularly for detecting delta-9 THC, offers significant advantages over traditional urine tests. The observed collection process, difficulty of tampering, and specific detection of recent drug use make it a superior choice for modern drug screening programs.
1. Observed Collections: One of the primary advantages of oral fluid testing is that the collection process is observed. This reduces the likelihood of tampering, substitution, or adulteration of the sample. In contrast, urine testing often occurs in private, providing opportunities for individuals to cheat using synthetic urine, adulterants, or borrowed samples. Unlike urine testing, oral fluid collection is also free of concerns about privacy, gender identity and gender-specific observations.
2. Difficult to Tamper With: The process of collecting an oral fluid sample is straightforward and conducted under direct supervision, making it extremely difficult for individuals to manipulate the sample. This ensures the integrity of the test results. Unlike urine, oral fluid also replenishes quickly and continuously, making adulteration under observation nearly impossible and providing a better sample type for detecting current use of marijuana.
3. Specific and Precise Detection: Oral fluid testing is more specific and precise in detecting recent drug use. This is particularly important for delta-9 THC, which is the psychoactive component of marijuana. Unlike urine tests, which detect non-psychoactive metabolites that can remain in the body for weeks, oral fluid tests can accurately identify the presence of delta-9 THC for only a few hours after consumption. This makes oral fluid testing a more accurate measure of current impairment rather than past usage.
ToxiTrace™: Leading the Way in Oral Fluid Testing
Buzzkill Lab’s flagship product, ToxiTrace™, exemplifies the advancements in oral fluid testing technology. ToxiTrace™ is intended for the collection and testing of oral fluid to screen for the presence of delta-9 THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana. The technology filters out past-use metabolites and non-impairing cannabinoids (i.e. CBD).
ToxiTrace™ provides lab-quality results in just 20 minutes, making it an efficient and effective tool for workplace drug screening. By analyzing oral fluid samples using gold-standard chromatography, ToxiTrace™ can detect psychoactive THC with high precision, ensuring that only those currently under the influence are identified.
The ToxiTrace™ system utilizes two orthogonal chromatography steps. The first chromatography separates and excludes metabolites, proteins and other potential interferents. The second chromatography step distinguishes delta-9 THC from other cannabinoids such as CBD. Using two chromatography steps eliminates both false positives and targets delta-9 THC only. Once the target analytes are separated a spectroscopic marker is added and an image is taken. The images are uploaded and analyzed with AI-driven algorithms.
The rapid turnaround time and accuracy of ToxiTrace™ make it an invaluable resource for employers committed to maintaining a safe and productive work environment. By focusing on the detection of psychoactive THC, ToxiTrace™ helps to differentiate between recent marijuana consumption and historical usage, which is a common limitation of urine testing.
Buzzkill Lab’s ToxiTrace™ sets a new standard in oral fluid testing, providing quick and accurate results that help ensure workplace safety and productivity. As we continue to navigate the complexities of drug use in society, embracing innovative solutions like oral fluid testing will be key to staying ahead of the curve.
Conclusion
Employers should ensure they have robust marijuana drug testing programs in place. Augmenting their drug testing programs to incorporate ToxiTrace™ can provide added benefits in maintaining compliance and ensuring workplace safety in light of increased marijuana usage, growing social acceptance, and evolving drug policies.
Contact Buzzkill Labs at inquiries@buzzkilllabs.com to learn more.
