Europe, MEA Substance Abuse Treatment Market Size

Europe, MEA Substance Abuse Treatment Market Analysis

The Europe, Middle East, and Africa substance abuse treatment market is expected to witness a CAGR of 9.0% over the forecast period.

• COVID-19 had a significant impact on the Europe, Middle East, and Africa substance abuse treatment market since there was a big increase in binge drinking during COVID-19. For instance, as per the February 2021 update by Randox Technology, the impact of COVID-19 on drug usage in Europe varied depending on the drug in consideration. Overall, 51.6% of survey respondents reported increasing their drug or alcohol intake, and 57.3% reported using drugs more often.
• The main explanations for these trends are boredom and anxiety, most likely as a result of the imposed limits of severe lockdown measures. However, as the pandemic restrictions eased, the Europe, Middle East, and Africa substance abuse treatment market is expected to witness growth in the market due to the increase in awareness campaigns regarding substance abuse and the increase in substance dependence among the population.
• Certain factors that are driving the market growth include rising drug awareness campaigns and prevention programs, a high number of addicted populations, and a rise in research and development of substance abuse treatment. For instance, as per the European Drug Report 2022, approximately 83.4 million or 29 % of adults (aged 15-64) in the European Union were estimated to use an illicit drug, with more males (50.5 million) than females (33.0 million) reporting use. Cannabis remains the most widely consumed substance, with over 22 million European adults reporting its use in 2021. Hence, a high number of substances used in the European region is expected to increase the demand for substance abuse treatment over the forecast period.
• Furthermore, the rise in drug awareness campaigns and associated prevention programs is one of the primary factors linked to the growth of the market studied. It includes rising patient awareness, a higher treatment-seeking rate with increased government intervention, and encouragement to curb substance abuse in several countries. For instance, in May 2021, the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC), a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre of Excellence in the field of substance abuse in the Middle East, organized a capacity-building training event in the field of drug and alcohol abuse prevention.
• Additionally, an increasing number of treatment centers that have collaborations with private recovery facilities are entering the market, thus helping in the expansion of treatment access to a higher number of people in society. For instance, in October 2022, the Gauteng Provincial Government launched the substance abuse helpline in line with Premier Panyaza Lesufi's commitment to intensify the fight against substance abuse across Gauteng.
• Hence, due to the increase in substance use and a rise in awareness programs against drug abuse, the studied market is likely to witness significant growth over the forecast period. However, the discontinuation of behavioral therapies and poor treatment compliance in some countries hinder the growth of the market studied.