Opioid Withdrawal Treatment Market to Reach $3.20 Bn by 2034

Vantage Market Research releases its latest comprehensive report on the ‘Global Opioid Withdrawal Treatment Market’ with a forecast period of 2025-2034. In 2023, the global opioid withdrawal treatment market size was USD 1.13 billion, and is calculated at USD 1.24 billion in 2024. The market is calculated to reach USD 3.26 billion in 2034, and register a revenue CAGR of 10.1% over the forecast period (2025-2034).

Market Overview:

Opioid withdrawal treatment market revenue growth is supported to a major extent by rising prevalence of opioid misuse and dependence, Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (OWS), Opioid Use Disorder (OUD),  and need to address the opioid crisis a number of countries are experiencing currently. The opioid use epidemic has left numerous challenges to be addressed and presents numerous complexities to healthcare providers and governments alike. Another key factor supporting market growth to a major extent is increasing number of individuals seeking help to overcome opioid addiction and dependence, and this is driving need for various programs, treatments, and management strategies to aid in successful recovery of dependent patients. 

Opioid withdrawal treatment comprise provision of care, appropriate and typically non-opioid medication and therapies, and other essential strategies and approaches to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and diminish cravings, all of which are critical for successful and total recovery. A number of awareness drives regarding opioid withdrawal symptoms and potentially risks and adverse consequences and also initiatives to encourage individuals to seek treatment across various healthcare settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and outpatient facilities has been having a positive impact on market growth. 

Rising awareness among the public as well as increasing number of government and public-private initiatives aimed at addressing the growing opioid crisis have been resulting in implementation of policies that support Medication-Assisted Treatments (MAT) for opioid withdrawal. This is making medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone more accessible across different healthcare settings, and supporting wider appeal among increasing number of individuals seeking to overcome opioid dependence and addiction. 

Unlike Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment which is centered on enduring control and recovery from opioid addiction, opioid withdrawal treatment is designed to aid individuals experiencing immediate opioid withdrawal symptoms as result of reducing use or dosage or stopping use altogether, and aiding in recovery. These programs play a crucial role during the detoxification stage and for individuals with severe withdrawal symptom. 

Another key factor supporting revenue growth of the market is the destigmatization associated with opioid addiction and profiling of individuals opting for opioid withdrawal treatments. Also, better understanding of opioid addiction as a medical condition and increasing number of individuals seeking opioid withdrawal treatment has been supporting adoption of various programs, therapies, and treatment approaches to address opioid withdrawal and the symptoms and challenges. Outcomes of these treatments and programs have been promising and this is another factor expected to continue to have positive impact on growth of the global opioid withdrawal treatment market. 

Opioids frequently prescribed for medical use, particularly for pain management or opioid dependence treatment include natural and semi-synthetic opioids such as morphine, codeine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, and Hydromorphone, which is a more potent opioid prescribed for severe pain. Heroin, is not prescribed medically, but is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine, and used illicitly. Synthetic opioids include Fentanyl, used for severe pain, particularly in cancer patients. It can also be found in patches or lozenges. Methadone is used for both pain relief and as part of medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction. Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex) is a partial opioid agonist, used in treating opioid dependence as part of MAT. Tramadol (Ultram) is used for moderate to moderately severe pain, though it is not considered a weaker opioid. Meperidine (Demerol) was previously popular for pain relief, but is now less commonly used due to its side effects.

Less common or discontinued opioids include Propoxyphene, which was previously used for pain relief, but was removed from the market due to safety concerns. LAAM (L-alpha-acetylmethadol) is used to treat opioid dependence, though it is rarely prescribed today. These opioids are commonly prescribed based on pain severity, medical condition, and specific needs of patient such as for managing opioid dependence or chronic pain.

Some key trends in the market include increasing adoption of non-opioid therapies, personalized treatment plans, and integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for predictive analytics in patient care. Companies are focusing on research and development to discover novel therapeutic approaches and innovation to enhance existing treatments. 

Some Key Takeaways:

• Among the regional markets, North America opioid withdrawal treatment market is expected to continue to lead in terms of revenue share over the forecast period with majorly contribution from the US.
• In Europe, the United Kingdom and Germany are key markets for opioid withdrawal treatment. 
• In Asia Pacific, China and India are emerging markets due to rising opioid abuse and greater awareness of addiction treatment options. 
• Latin America is also registering rising demand for opioid withdrawal treatment and adoption of associated programs, with Brazil and Mexico leading among the countries.
• The Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) segment is expected to account for largest revenue share among the treatment type segments.
• Among drug type segments, the buprenorphine segment is expected to account for largest revenue share.
• The hospitals and clinics segment is expected to account for largest revenue among end-user segments over the forecast period.
• The hospital pharmacies segment is expected to account for largest revenue share among the application segments over the forecast period.
• Among distribution channel segments, the hospital pharmacies segment is expected to account for largest revenue share.
• The global opioid withdrawal treatment market is highly competitive, with a number of leading companies adopting various strategies, mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, product innovations, and global footprint expansion. 
• Companies such as Alkermes, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Indivior, and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals are actively engaged in extensive R&D for more effective opioid withdrawal treatments.

Company List:

• Indivior PLC
• Alkermes PLC
• BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.
• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
• Pfizer, Inc.
• Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
• Orexo AB
• Hikma Pharmaceuticals
• Viatris Inc. (formerly Mylan)
• Purdue Pharma L.P.

Recent Developments:

November 6, 2023: BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc., which is a biopharmaceutical company utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop transformative medicines in neuroscience, announced an update on the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded trial evaluating BXCL501 (sublingual dexmedetomidine) as a potential treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). According to the announcement, dexmedetomidine has potential to treat patients who are physically dependent on illicit and prescription opioids, and is believed to be particularly helpful in treating withdrawal symptoms in patients who are dependent on fentanyl and/or fentanyl adulterated with xylazine.

May 23, 2023: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Brixadi (buprenorphine) extended-release injection for subcutaneous use (under the skin) to treat moderate to severe opioid use disorder (OUD). The two formulations Brixadi is available in are a weekly injection for those patients who began treatment with a single dose of a transmucosal buprenorphine product or who are being treated with buprenorphine, and a monthly injection for patients already being treated with buprenorphine.

Opioid Withdrawal Treatment Market Segmentation:

By Treatment Type:

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Non-Medication-Based Therapy

Detoxification Treatment

Behavioral Therapy

By Drug Type:

• Buprenorphine
• Methadone
• Naltrexone
• Clonidine
• Lofexidine

By End-User:

• Hospitals & Clinics
• Rehabilitation Centers
• Homecare Settings
• Specialty Treatment Centers

By Distribution Channel:

• Hospital Pharmacies
• Retail Pharmacies
• Online Pharmacies
• Drug Treatment Programs (Government and Private)

Regional Segmentation: 

North America

• United States
• Canada
• Mexico

Europe

• Germany
• United Kingdom
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Rest of Latin America 

Middle East & Africa

• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa
• United Arab Emirates
• Israel
• Rest of MEA