Drug-positive rates for the Army from fiscal years 1991 to 2000 and for the National Guard from fiscal years 1997 to 2000

• Published in: Military medicine Vol. 167; no. 5; pp. 379 - 383
• Main Authors: BRUINS, Mark R, OKANO, Catherine K, LYONS, Timothy P, LUKEY, Brian J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Association of Military Surgeons 01.05.2002; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Analysis. Health state; Biological and medical sciences; Epidemiology; General aspects; Humans; Medical sciences; Military Personnel - statistics & numerical data; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Substance Abuse Detection - methods; Substance-Related Disorders - diagnosis; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Substance-Related Disorders - urine; United States - epidemiology; United States; North America; America; Human; Urine; Ester; Army; Bioassay; Abuse; Illicit drug; Cocaine; Detection; Epidemiology; Public health
• ISSN: 0026-4075; 1930-613X
• DOI: 10.1093/miled.167.5.379

This article examines the positive rate by drug for all urinalysis specimens tested by the U.S. Army from fiscal year 1991 (FY91) to FY00 and for the Army National Guard (NG) from FY97 to FY00. The average positive rate for the Army from FY91 to FY00 was 0.84%. In FY00, the Army rate reached a 10-year high of 1.04%. From FY97 to FY00, the NG positive rate declined from 3.4% to 2.16% but was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the Army rate during the same period. Marijuana and cocaine are the most abused drugs for both the Army and NG. The positive rate for marijuana in the Army from FY91 to FY00 was 0.51%, and the cocaine rate was 0.19%. The NG marijuana-positive rate from FY97 to FY00 was 1.70%, and the cocaine rate was 0.51%. The positive rate for all other drugs of abuse tested was less than 0.3% for both the Army and NG during the same periods. The overall positive rate for the Army and NG are below those estimated (6.3%) in the civilian population.