Drug monitoring resource center

The following resources are provided to help physicians understand oral fluid sample collection and to assist patients in completing self-collection of lab samples for physician-ordered drug monitoring tests.

Ten years ago, drug overdoses claimed nearly 42,000 lives annually in the United States. By the end of 2021, that number rose to nearly 108,000. Fueled by increased access to illicit drugs as well as barriers to healthcare access exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s clear the drug crisis shows no signs of abating. That’s just 1 of the startling findings presented in Drug Misuse in America 2022: A Decade Lost to the Drug Crisis, a Quest Diagnostics Health Trends annual report that examines more than 20 million deidentified clinical drug tests over 10 years.

Drug Misuse in America 2021: Physician Perspectives and Diagnostic Insights on the Drug Crisis and COVID-19, a Quest Diagnostics Health Trends report, explores the impact of the pandemic on drug misuse using nearly 5 million deidentified laboratory tests performed by Quest Diagnostics from 2011 through 2020 for patients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The report is believed to be the first of its kind that juxtaposes laboratory test results with findings from an online survey of 505 US primary care physicians about the use of controlled prescription medications and illicit drugs in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As an industry leader in drug testing, Quest Diagnostics provides a wealth of information and resources to help you make more informed decisions for your patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents some difficult challenges to providing appropriate levels of drug monitoring for opioids and other prescription drugs. Below are some resources we hope will be helpful.