When Avonova took a closer look at the drug tests conducted at Swedish workplaces during 2024, the statistics indicated an increase of nearly seven percent compared to last year. Thus, the development from previous years continues, with the increase between 2017 and 2024 amounting to a total of 239 percent.

“Unfortunately, it’s not just the number of tests that is growing; we are also seeing an increase in the proportion of positive results. In 2020, one percent of the tests yielded a positive result, but now over two percent are positive,” explains Fredrik Sparring, company physician and specialist in dependency issues at Avonova.

Previous investigations by Avonova have shown that cannabis is the most common substance among the positive test results, and that the construction industry stands out as the most affected.

“It is high time that dependency issues are prioritized more highly by more employers. First and foremost, it is about saving individuals from a destructive future addiction, but it is also a matter of safety and corporate productivity. We also need to change the perception of drug use, so that employees have the opportunity for rehabilitation in the same way as for alcohol dependency,” says Fredrik Sparring.

Avonova's statistics on drug tests and positive test results (2021-2024)