Drug positive rates for the army, army reserve, and army national guard from fiscal year 2001 through 2011

Abstract

Objective: To examine the overall and drug-specific positive rates of Army urinalysis specimens tested from fiscal year 2001 (FY01) through FY11. Methods: We analyzed annual Army Forensic Toxicology Drug Testing Laboratory results from FY01 to FY11. Results: From FY01 to FY11, the Army's positive rate was 1.06%. The component rates were 0.84%, 1.53%, and 1.94% for the active duty, Reserve, and National Guard, respectively. The Army's average positive rate for marijuana from FY01 to FY11 was 0.79%, and the cocaine rate was 0.26%. From FY06 to FY11, the average positive rate for oxycodone was 0.74% and the d-amphetamine rate was 0.30%. Apart from oxymorphone, a key metabolite of oxycodone, the positive rate for all other drugs tested was below 0.25%. The FY11 drug positive rates in decreasing order were oxymorphone > oxycodone > marijuana > d-amphetamine > codeine > cocaine > morphine > d-methamphetamine > methylenedioxymethamphetamine > heroin > methylenedioxyamphetamine > phencyclidine. Although the drug positive rate for heroin remains low, the number of positives has increased dramatically since FY05. Conclusion: The drug-testing program continues to serve as a vital deterrent as evidenced by the Army's overall positive rate being well below the 8.9% estimated illicit use in the civilian population. © Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S. All rights reserved.