NEW STUDY: Hawaii leads nation in meth use at work - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A new study released Friday by Quest Diagnostic Incorporated shows that Hawaii has the highest percentage in the nation of methamphetamine users at work.

According to the study, Hawaii workers test positive for the drug at a rate that's four times higher than the national average.

States notably above the national average include the following:

1. Hawaii - 410 percent greater than the national average
2. Arkansas - 280 percent greater than the national average
3. Oklahoma - 240 percent greater than the national average
4. Nevada - 180 percent greater than the national average
5. California - 140 percent greater than the national average
6. Wyoming - 130 percent greater than the national average
7. Utah - 120 percent greater than the national average
8. Arizona - 100 percent greater than the national average
9. Kansas - 80 percent greater than the national average

The drug testing company analyzed more than 4.5 million urine samples nationwide last year.

A University of Hawaii psychiatry professor says Hawaii's location is a prime reason why meth use is so high.

"We're directly in transit lanes of areas of highest production in Korea and the Philippines," Dr. William Haning said. "And it tends to make importation into Hawaii very easy. This is not a drug this is readily identified through the usual screening techniques."

Haning says another reason is the island's service economy, in which many users take meth in an effort to work longer, harder and multiple jobs.

For more information on the Quest Diagnostic Drug Testing Index and the full 2010 tables, visit this website.

Copyright 2011 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.