Drug positive rates for the Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard from fiscal year 2001 through 2011

To examine the overall and drug-specific positive rates of Army urinalysis specimens tested from fiscal year 2001 (FY01) through FY11.

We analyzed annual Army Forensic Toxicology Drug Testing Laboratory results from FY01 to FY11.

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.

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.