Testing for drugs of abuse (DOA) is a clinical screening method for identifying one or more unlawful substances, such as drugs, chemicals, or plant products. This clinical screening technique is carried out to determine whether any prescription or illicit medications are present in the patient’s saliva, urine, hair, blood, or perspiration.
P&S Intelligence says, by 2030, it is expected that the drug of abuse testing industry would be worth USD 10,485.7 million. The increase is due to a number of factors, including rising rates of technical development and increased public awareness of the negative consequences of drugs and alcohol.
Consumables account for the majority (over 60%), as they may be readily made accessible for drug testing on-site. The consumables only have a very short shelf life; therefore, they can only be used once before needing to be purchased again.
Additionally, immunoassay analyzers are frequently utilized because they offer a quick, affordable, and practical way to screen lots of samples in a range of matrices. The analyzers retain the second-largest share since they deliver accurate findings as well.
Since urine samples emit metabolites that can be easily examined for the existence of illicit substances and are unaffected by external factors, they dominate the market.
The majority of drugs may be detected in urine, which is another reason why it is preferred to collect urine collections for the testing of intoxicating substances. The non-invasive collection method, speedy results, and ability to identify the majority of drugs are other factors.
As a result, urinalysis-specific laboratories have significantly boosted their capacity thanks to the use of immunoassay analyzers and test kits. The usage of urine analysis for drugs has also increased as a result of technical developments in DOA testing techniques, the rising need for these procedures, and increase in overdose-related fatalities.
Due to the fact that hospitals perform the majority of DOA testing, hospitals account for 30% of all users. Additionally, a significant number of samples gathered elsewhere are submitted to hospitals for additional examination.
The dominance of hospitals in this market is attributable to their availability of sophisticated goods that can perform a variety of tests, as well as to their simple accessibility to drug screening devices and prescription medications.
The number of people wounded and killed in traffic accidents is counted, whether they occur right away or within 30 days of each other. Alcohol and other substances impair judgment, reflexes, motor function, impulse control, and decision-making, which increases the risk of traffic accidents and, frequently, fatalities.
The WHO estimates that 1.3 million people die in automobile accidents each year and that 20 million to 50 million people have non-fatal injuries.
The 2021 NSDUH found that 57.8% of adults 12 and older used cigarettes, alcohol, and illegal substances in 2021. Furthermore, 19.5% of them smoked, 14.3% used illegal substances, and 47.5% of them drank alcohol. Men are also more prone than women to use drugs and drink, as is common knowledge.