American workers are failing drug tests at the highest rate in 16 years, despite a growing trend of marijuana legalization

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Americans tested positive more often for drugs in 2019 than the last 16 years.

Quest Diagnostics, one of the largest US testing providers, said in its annual report that marijuana rates were up while opiates and heroin continue to fall.

Some activist organizations oppose how prevalent workplace drug testing has become, especially in non "safety-sensitive" industries.

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American workers subjected to drug tests at work tested positive at the highest rate in 16 years in 2019, according to one of the largest testing providers, despite growing public support for legalized marijuana.

Quest Diagnostics, which has made headlines this year for COVID-19 testing delays, said Tuesday that workforce drug positivity rates hit 4.5 in 2019, the highest since 2003. The company says the coronavirus pandemic which shows no signs of stopping soon in the US likely accelerated some substance use.See the rest of the story at Business InsiderNOW WATCH: How the Navy's largest hospital ship can help with the coronavirusSee Also:The best golf driversThe best KitchenAid attachmentsThe best webcams

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