September 18, 2020

Analysis of Drug Test Results Before and After the US Declaration of a National Emergency Concerning the COVID-19 Outbreak

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Mental Health and Personal Impact

Keywords (Tags): mental health personal impact

• There were increases in urine drug test positivity among people with or at risk of substance use disorders (n=150,000) from the 4 months before the COVID-19 emergency declaration to the 4 months after the declaration. Test positivity increased from 3% to 5% for cocaine, from 4% to 7% for fentanyl, from 1% to 2% for heroin, and from 6% to 8% for methamphetamine.

Wainwright et al. (Sept 18, 2020). Analysis of Drug Test Results Before and After the US Declaration of a National Emergency Concerning the COVID-19 Outbreak. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.17694