Global At-Home Drug of Abuse (DOA) Testing Market Size

At-Home Drug of Abuse (DOA) Testing Market Analysis

The Global At-Home Drug of Abuse Testing Market size is estimated at USD 719.78 million in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 933.61 million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 5.34% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

The studied market was impacted by the pandemic. With the advent of the pandemic, owing to the restrictions imparted by several governments on the travel and supply chain, the usual patterns of drug abuse were impacted throughout the world. The temporary bans affected the shipping of illicit drugs across the world, which widely impacted the market. According to the World Drug Report 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an overall increase in the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis, especially in the initial stages of the lockdowns. There was an increase in the consumption volumes owing to an increase in the frequencies and quantities of cannabis use, with herbal cannabis occupying a major portion.

The same source indicated that there was an increase in the non-medical use of sedatives, such as benzodiazepines, tranquilizers, and other psychiatric pharmaceuticals. However, there was a reduction in drug use among adolescents due to the lack of availability due to travel restrictions and social distancing, and close parental monitoring.

Also, owing to the reduction in the supply of illicit drugs, there was an increase in the local production of such drugs, which acted as an important factor adding to the market growth. For instance, according to an article titled 'Impact of COVID-19 Controls on the Use of Illicit Drugs and Alcohol in Australia' published in August 2021, there was a significant reduction in the availability of methamphetamine in Australia during the period of February to June 2020. Nonetheless, there was a considerable increase in the consumption of cannabis, along with other locally produced drugs. The use of such locally produced drugs is expected to boost the growth of the at-home drug abuse testing market. Thus, the market was adversely impacted by the pandemic however, it is expected to grow in the future.

Illicit drugs refer to substances that are illegal and highly addictive and can either stimulate or inhibit the central nervous system. The rise in the use and production of illicit drugs is expected to play a vital role in the growth of the at-home drug of abuse (DOA) testing market. There has been an increase in the use of illicit drugs around the world. For instance, according to the World Drug Report 2022 published by the United Nations in June 2022, cannabis had the greatest number of users in the world with over 209 million users in the year 2020. Opioids came second with over 61 million users consuming opioids for non-medical reasons. In the year 2020, 34 million people had used amphetamines, an estimated 20 million people used ecstasy, and around 21 million people used cocaine-type substances. The report also indicated that there had been an overall increase in the use of the drugs during the year 2019-2020. This increase in the use of such drugs is expected to boost the growth of the at-home DOA testing market.

Moreover, the rise in the production of illicit drugs is also aiding market growth. For instance, according to an article by the White House on poppy cultivation and potential heroin production in Mexico, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) indicated that in the year 2021, there was an increase in poppy cultivation in Mexico by 23%, from 23,200 hectares in 2020 to 28,600 hectares in 2021. Also, the potential pure production of heroin increased by 22%, from 59 metric tons in 2020 to 72 metric tons in 2021. This increasing production is expected to significantly propel the growth of the at-home DOA testing market over the forecast period.

Various government organizations around the world have established measures to curb the incidences of drug abuse. The White House in its National Drug Control Strategy published in April 2022 focused on measures to reduce the number of overdose deaths in the nation in the short term and the reduction of drug abuse and its damaging consequences over the longer term. The article indicated that as per the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), around 20 million people living in the United States affected by drug overdose were not receiving addiction treatment services. The rising necessity of the treatment has pressured the government to formulate measures to help improve the conditions of people undergoing drug abuse, which is expected to add to the growth of the studied market over the forecast period. Thus, the abovementioned factors are expected to increase the market growth.

However, lack of awareness of these testing devices is a constraint to the market growth.