Although a recent analysis by Quest Diagnostics showed that cocaine and methamphetamine use dropped amongst US workers in 2008, it also confirmed that use of amphetamines rose during that same period. The results came from 5.7 million urine samples Quest Diagnostics tested. The breakdown for drug use amongst US workers in 2008 was as follows: cocaine use fell by 29%; methamphetamine use dropped by 21%; and Amphetamine use rose from 5.3 percent in 2007 to a whopping 12.5 percent last year in 2008.

Quest Diagnostics’ urine tests are designed to check recent drug use, as in a 1-3 day period. The company disclosed that the US government and the medical field concurred that the spike in amphetamine use over the last year coincides with the data collected from hospitals for prescriptions given to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Chemicals prescribed to treat ADHD, such as Ritalin, often contain amphetamines or “Speed” as it’s known on the street. Quest Diagnostics confirmed that according to their information, drug use amongst US workers has shown an overall decline since 1988.