METHAMPHETAMINE, COCAINE USE PLUMMET

New Drug Testing Data Show Effects Of Supply Crunch

John Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy, highlighted
new data showing significant reductions in meth and cocaine
positivity rates in the American workforce, as well as continued
disruptions in the supply of both drugs.

According to data released today by Quest Diagnostics' Drug Testing
Index (DTI), results from workplace drug screenings conducted in 2007
show a more than 50 percent decline in the percentage of positive
tests for methamphetamine over two years, from 28 of every 10,000
people testing positive for meth in 2005 to 14 of every 10,000
testing positive for meth in 2007.

"Dangerous drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine have scorched many
American communities and ruined lives and families," said Director
Walters. "We need to put more pressure on the people and
organizations profiting from the sale of these poisons. But the data
released today show that when we push back, we can make progress."

Over the last few years, changes in state and federal laws, as well
as tighter international chemical controls, have made it more
difficult for meth producers to get the precursor chemicals they need
to make the drug. Domestic meth lab incidents have dropped by more
than 70 percent since 2004, while seizures of meth along the
U.S.-Mexico border are down 32 percent from 2006. The Southwest
border seizure declines coincide with aggressive actions by Mexico to
limit the amount of meth precursor chemicals coming into the country.
In 2004, more than 224 MT of pseudoephedrine was imported by Mexico;
in 2008, the Calderon Administration has ceased to issue import
permits for key meth precursor chemicals, and all remaining supplies
in the country must by depleted by 2009.

The decreases in meth use have contributed to a market constriction,
placing stress on dealers to maintain revenue flow by decreasing the
purity of the drug, while increasing price.

"Increased drug prices and decreased purity confirm what DEA agents
are seeing across this country: a hard hit on the drug supply," said
DEA Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. "DEA and our partners
are attacking traffickers' movement of drugs, money and chemicals
like never before, and that data is a strong indicator that we have
struck the traffickers a severe blow. The impressive decline in drug
use by America's workers is further evidence that our collective
efforts are working."

According to the DTI, workplace drug tests have also found sustained
decreases in cocaine positives among the U.S. workforce. Quest
Diagnostics' latest findings show a 19 percent decrease in cocaine
positives, from 72 out of every 10,000 workers testing positive for
cocaine in 2006 to 58 out of every 10,000 in 2007. This decline
represents the lowest rate of cocaine positives since the DTI began
reporting the data more than a decade ago.

The latest DTI also supports previous findings from Federal drug use
surveys that warn of a rising tide of prescription drug use.
Positives for amphetamine-stimulants that can include prescription
drugs of diet aids-increased more than seven percent from 2006-2007.
To address the growing prescription drug abuse threat, President Bush
and the ONDCP have launched an unprecedented advertising effort
urging parents to safeguard their children by safeguarding their
prescription drugs. The president has also called on Congress to pass
legislation that would prevent rogue internet pharmacies from
providing controlled substances without the controls of a legitimate
doctor-patient relationship or a valid prescription.

For more information, visit www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov. To view the
Quest Diagnostics 2007 Drug Testing Index, visit www.questdiagnostics.com.