Market Trends of Global Drug Abuse Testing Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Drug Abuse Testing Market according to our research experts:
The Urine Segment is Expected to Dominate in the Market Over the Forecast Period
Drug abuse testing by urine analysis has been suggested and implemented in many cases for workplace drug abuse, criminal justice cases, etc. There are many laboratory setups established to perform urinalysis associated with methadone treatment that has had to greatly expand their capacities. In recent years, many new laboratories have sprung up to meet the demands for drug assays, and clinical laboratories associated with medical centers, under economic pressures recent years, have begun to venture into drug testing. Therefore, the urine analysis segment of the market is expected to gain traction shortly.
Also, the technological developments in drug abuse testing, the increasing number of deaths due to drug overdose, and the growing demand for drug tests have led to the increasing use of urine analysis for drug abuse. Also, the advancements in guidelines by the providers are expected to boost the studied segment. For instance, with effect from April 2020, WellCare Health Plans introduced the new clinical coverage guidelines and claims payment policy for urine drug testing and included definitive urine drug testing as medically necessary as part of a routine monitoring program for individuals who receive treatment for chronic pain with prescription opioid or other potentially abused medications or those undergoing treatment for, or monitoring for relapse of, opioid addiction or substance use disorder.
Additionally, as per the article titled "Demand for interpretation of a urine drug testing panel reflects the changing landscape of clinical needs; opportunities for the laboratory to provide added clinical value " published in September 2020, there has been an increased adoption in the targeted panel of urine drug testing, and the value of clinical urine drug testing was observed to have improved by providing laboratory-based results interpretation and consultative services.
Thus, owing to the aforementioned factors, the studied segment is expected to witness healthy growth over the forecast period.
North America Holds the Large Market Share, and is Expected to do the Same Over the Forecast Period
North America accounts for the largest share of the drug abuse testing market globally. Drug abuse is a serious problem that can lead to legal, financial, and health problems, and the North American region is currently facing the same problems. Therefore, various initiatives are being implemented by the United States government to monitor the symptoms and to determine whether a person is under drug abuse. For instance, in October 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched four education campaigns aimed at preventing drug overdose deaths.
There is also high adoption of technologically advanced products for drug abuse testing, increased demand for illicit drugs in the region, and large-scale drug trafficking, which are all responsible for the growth of the market in the region. As per the data published by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion(ODPHP) in 2022, 14.2% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 years reported the use of alcohol or any illicit drugs. Additionally, in May 2020, Cannabix Technologies Inc. developed a new version of its THC Breath Analyzer, and it has been involved in developing the device for additional testing. Thus, the rising drug and alcohol abuse and emerging new technologies to detect intoxication in the body are expected to help the market growth in the region over the forecast period.
Thus the above-mentioned factors are expected to drive the growth of the market in this region during the forecast period.
