Opioids market

Opioids are the class of drugs that include illicit drugs such as heroin, codeine, fentanyl, meperidine, methadone, morphine, hydrocodone, diphenoxylate, hydromorphone, methylphenidate, oxycodone, and oxymorphone. Opioids are prescribed for pain management and treatment of cough and diarrhea.

The U.S. opioids market is estimated to be valued at US$ 16,285.2 million in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period (2022-2030).

Figure 1.U.S. Opioids Market Share (%), by Drug Type, 2022

Increasing prevalence of pain associated with diseases such as cancer, migraine, osteoarthritis, neuropathic, and other diseases are expected to drive growth of the opioids market in the U.S.

The increasing prevalence of diseases causing pain such as neuropathy is expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period. For instance, according to the data provided by the Cleveland Clinic, a non-profit academic medical center, in December 2019, about 8% of adults over 65 years of age report some degree of neuropathy in the U.S.

Figure 2. U.S. Opioids Market Share (%), by Therapeutic Application, 2022

Increasing surgical procedures are expected to drive the market growth during the forecast period.

The increasing use of opioids post-surgery is expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period. For instance, according to an article published by JAMA Network Open Journal in June 2020, a meta analysis study from inception to August 30, 2017 with an updated search performed on June 30, 2019, was carried out to estimate the prevalence of individuals with prolonged use of opioids after surgery in the U.S. According to the results, the pooled rate of prolonged opioid use after surgery was 6.7% amongst the individuals.

U.S. Opioids Market– Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

Since the COVID-19 virus outbreak in December 2019, the disease has spread to over 100 countries across the globe and the World Health Organization had declared it a public health emergency on January 30, 2020.

COVID-19 can affect the economy in three main ways: by directly affecting production and demand of drugs by creating disruptions in distribution channels, and through its financial impact on firms and financial markets. Due to nationwide lockdowns, several countries, such as China, India, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Egypt, and others are facing problems with regards to the transportation of drugs from one place to another

However, the COVID-19 pandemic had a positive effect on the U.S. opioids market, owing to the increased use of opioids during this period. For instance, according to an article published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a U.S. federal government research institute, drug overdoses have accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 93,000 drug overdose such as opioids and other drugs deaths were estimated to have occurred in the U.S. in 2020, the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period and a nearly 30% increase from 2019.

U.S. Opioids Market: Key Developments

In November 2021, VITAS Healthcare, the nation's leading provider of end-of-life care, launched the industry's first comprehensive opioid conversion tool. Healthcare professionals can use the tool to prescribe opioids and manage pain effectively.

In August 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Olinvyk (oliceridine), an opioid agonist for the management of moderate to severe acute pain in adults, where the pain is severe enough to require an intravenous opioid and for whom alternative treatments are inadequate. The FDA granted this approval to Trevena, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company.

U.S. Opioids Market: Restraint

The major factors that hinder growth of the U.S. opioids market include increased opioid abuse and side effects associated with opioids. For instance, according to the data provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a U.S., federal government research institute, in January 2022, nearly 92,000 persons in the U.S. died from drug-involved overdose in 2020, including illicit drugs and prescription opioids

Key Players

Major players operating in the U.S. opioids market include Purdue Pharmaceuticals L.P., Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Mallinckrodt, Pfizer Inc., Assertio Holdings, Inc., Par Pharmaceutical, Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Trevena, Inc., Lupin, and Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

Detailed Segmentation:

• U.S. Opioids Market, By Drugs:
  • Codeine
  • Fentanyl 
  • Meperidine 
  • Methadone 
  • Morphine 
  • Hydrocodone
• U.S. Opioids Market, By Therapeutic Application:
  • Pain Management
    • Neuropathic Pain
    • Migraine
    • Back Pain
    • Osteoarthritis Pain
    • Cancer Pain
    • Others
  • Cough Treatment
  • Diarrhea Treatment
• U.S. Opioids Market, By Distribution Channel:
  • Hospital Pharmacies
  • Retail Pharmacies
  • Online Pharmacies