Industry Outlook

Drug of Abuse Testing market accounted for USD 7.8 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 14.35 Billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of around 5.7% between 2025 and 2035. Drug of abuse testing encompasses various products, technologies, and services designed to analyze biological samples such as blood, saliva, urine, and hair to detect illicit substance use. Drug of abuse testing is important for preventing and monitoring drug use. It is crucial for managing substance use in various settings such as sports, healthcare facilities, and regulatory compliance to ensure safety.

Report Scope:

Market Dynamics

• Rising substance abuse rates drive demand for enhanced drug testing solutions

The need for drug testing products is increasing due to the rising incidence of substance addiction. The demand for efficient testing to identify and treat substance dependence is growing as more people use drugs. This rise in demand affects a wide range of businesses, including the legal system, healthcare, and workplaces, as they are all dependent on precise testing techniques to guarantee patient safety. According to the most current results of the Future poll, the adult population aged 19 to 30 and 35 to 50 continued to consume cannabis and other hallucinogens at historically highest rates in 2023.

• Technological limitations hinder the effective detection of substance of abuse

Effective substance detection and analysis is hampered by technology limitations in the drug misuse testing business. Test reliability is impacted by common test problems including false positives and negative results. Synthetic medicines are evolving swiftly and frequently evade detection by current testing procedures. Furthermore, the high cost and complexity of new technologies limit their widespread use. Continuous innovations are needed to get beyond these challenges, improve test accuracy, and keep up with new drug trends.

• Personalized Medicine and Precision Testing Open New Market Opportunities for Drug Abuse Detection

Significant market prospects have emerged for the identification of drug addiction through personalized medicine and precision testing, partly due to the development of more specialized and accurate testing methodologies. These methods provide deeper insights into substance use patterns and can enhance the accuracy of drug tests by incorporating personal genetic, environmental, and lifestyle data. This personalized approach caters to individual needs, improves detection capabilities, and enhances treatment effectiveness. As personalized medicine continues to advance, the field of drug testing holds increasing opportunities for innovation and expansion.

Industry Experts Opinion

Drug companies’ apathy toward developing addiction medications, and insurers’ unwillingness to pay for them, have created a shortage of options for people seeking addiction treatment

• Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse

“I see teens who become addicted to oxycodone by the third time they take it—they get hooked very quickly,”. “We’re seeing a lot of teens who find pills and think it’s fun to try them”. “They don’t know what they’re taking or what could happen to them, and then they end up in the hospital in bad shape,” she says.

•  Patricia Schram, MD, Children’s Hospital Boston Center for Adolescent Substance Research

Segment Analysis

Based on the product type, the Drug of Abuse Testing market has been classified into Immunoassay, chromatography, Rapid Testing, and Consumables. The Immunoassay products segment dominated the Drug of Abuse Testing market because immunoassays are widely used in drug testing and can screen for a wide range of substances quickly and affordably. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) are an example of an immunoassay that is typically less expensive than chromatographic techniques.

Based on the drug type, the Drug of Abuse Testing market has been classified into Amphetamines, Cannabis, Cocaine, and Opioids. Due to the ongoing opioid crisis and the urgent need for effective oversight and management, the rise in opioid-related issues has led to a significant increase in testing demand.

Regional Analysis

North America leads the Drug of Abuse Testing Market as high rates of substance abuse and strict regulatory requirements have led to a strong market for drug tests, particularly in the United States and Canada. Due to the severe opioid crisis in the US, strict drug testing policies have been implemented in various industries, including healthcare and employment, creating a significant market for testing-related goods and services. Similar legal and public health issues, such as changing cannabis laws and initiatives to combat substance abuse, are driving the Canadian market. This market is further supported by substantial investments in drug testing technologies and an advanced healthcare infrastructure in the region.

Both Eastern and Western European factors impact the dynamics of European markets. Due to high rates of drug abuse and stringent regulatory frameworks, Western Europe has a well-established drug testing industry. Extensive drug testing policies implemented in workplaces, healthcare facilities, and legal settings are the primary drivers of demand for testing services and technologies in this region.

Competitive Landscape

In the competitive landscape of the drug abuse testing market, key players include Abbott Laboratories, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Siemens Healthineers, and Quest Diagnostics. These companies dominate the market with their advanced testing technologies and extensive product portfolios. The industry is characterized by rapid innovation, with a focus on developing more accurate, rapid, and user-friendly testing solutions. Increased regulatory scrutiny and rising demand for workplace and clinical testing are driving competition. Moreover, emerging companies and technological advancements, such as point-of-care testing and molecular diagnostic methods, are shaping the market dynamics and pushing the boundaries of traditional testing approaches.

Drug of Abuse Testing Market, Company Shares Analysis, 2024

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Recent Developments:

• In September 2023, A co-development partnership was established between the Canadian biotech company Clearmind Medicine and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine to carry out a Phase I/II trial of the latter's serotonin receptor 1A agonist, CMND-100, for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.
• In June 2023, Clearmind Medicine entered a co-development partnership deal with Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Israel-based Company SciSparc to assess the efficacy of Clearmind Medicine's CMND-100 in combination with SciSparc's dual cannabinoid receptor 1/2 agonist palmidrol for the treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Report Coverage:

By Product Type

• Immunoassay
• Chromatography
• Rapid Testing
• Consumables

By Sample

• Urine
• Saliva
• Blood
• Others

By Drug

• Amphetamines
• Cannabis
• Cocaine
• Opioids
• Others

By End User

• Workplace
• Healthcare Facilities
• Criminal justice system
• Forensic laboratories
• Others

By Region

North America

• U.S.
• Canada

Europe

• U.K.
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• South Korea
• Singapore
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Mexico
• Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

• GCC Countries
• South Africa
• Rest of Middle East & Africa

List of Companies:

• Quest Diagnostics, Inc.
• Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
• Abbott Laboratories
• Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
• Roche Holding AG
• Siemens AG
• Danaher Corporation
• Mayo Clinic Laboratories
• LGC Group
• Cordant Health Solutions
• Shimadzu Corporation
• DrugScan
• Legacy Medical Services
• Precision Diagnostics
• Express Diagnostics International Inc

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)