The global opioids market size is anticipated to expand at a significant CAGR during the forecast period, 2021–2028. The growth of the market is attributed to the growing prevalence of diseases which causes chronic pain such as lower back pain, arthritis, cancer, fibromyalgia, and postsurgical pain. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated the market because of a large number of drug-abuse deaths registered in the country. They have released precise guidelines to manufacture, store, sell, and market opioid products.

A group of narcotic pain-relieving drug is known as opioids. These drugs interact with opioid receptors in cells and activate them. Poppy plants such as morphine or synthesized in a laboratory such as fentanyl are used to make opioids. Opioids are largely used as cough suppressant, diarrhea suppressant, anesthesia, and in pain management that arises due to various diseases.
Use of opioids for longer period of time results into dependency, drug addiction and rise in drug abuse which causing in high death rates. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, around 18,900 deaths were reported due to drug overdose and 10,500 were died because of heroin overdose. Seeing such a high rate of death due to opioid dependency and abuse, the U.S. government and other countries advocate against the use of opioids. Medicare, in January 2019, launched formed new opioid prescribing guidelines which affect Medicare Part D beneficiaries. Part D plans are anticipated to control early opioid supply to a 7-day supply or less. This guideline effect to those Medicare patients who are not prescribed for use of opioid.
Medical marijuana is anticipated as the possible antidote for epidemic that led to two-thirds of deaths every year in the U.S. As per recent study, it is observed that over dose death and drug abuse from prescription painkillers are reduced in those states where marijuana is legalized. Biopharmaceutical companies expect that medical marijuana product is projected to replace opioid use for chronic pain management.
Market Trends, Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities
- Growing demand of opioids in healthcare industries, and value oriented consumers are projected to drive the market expansion.
- Growing prevalence of chronic pain and orthopedic diseases, and increasing demand of opioids drugs in diarrhea suppressant and cough suppressant are anticipated to fuel the growth of the market.
- Increasing surgical procedures and road accidents, and rising palliative care facilities are propelling the market growth over the forecast period.
- Increasing focus on abuse-deterrent formulation (ADF) and inclination toward extended release formulations are expected to boost the expansion of the market.
- Stringent regulations, misuse of opioids, and side effects of opioids are projected to restrict the market growth.
- Legalization of cannabis as an alternative to opioids is key factor that hampers the market growth over the forecast period.
Scope of the Report
The report on the global opioids market includes an assessment of the market, trends, segments, and regional markets. Overview and dynamics have also been included in the report.
Attributes | Details |
Report Title | Opioids Market - Global Industry Analysis, Growth, Share, Size, Trends, and Forecast |
Base Year | 2020 |
Historic Data | 2018–2019 |
Forecast Period | 2021–2028 |
Segmentation | Products (Immediate-release/Short-acting [Products {Codeine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Fentanyl, Morphine, Hydroxymorphone, Oxymorphone, Propoxyphene and Others}, and Applications {Pain Relief, Anesthesia, Cough Suppression, Diarrhea Suppression, and De-addiction}], and Extended-release/Long-acting [Products {Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Methadone, Fentanyl, Morphine, Oxymorphone, Tapentadol, Buprenorphine, Hydromorphone, and Others} and Applications {Pain Relief, Anesthesia, Cough Suppression, Diarrhea Suppression, and De-addiction}]), Applications (Pain Relief [Cancer Pain, Postoperative Pain Management, Low-back Pain, Orthopedic, Neuropathic Pain, and Fibromyalgia], Anesthesia, Cough Suppression, Diarrhea Suppression, and De-addiction) |
Regional Scope | Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa |
Report Coverage | Company Share, Market Analysis and Size, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends, and Revenue Forecast |
Key Players Covered in the Report | Pharma L.P., Allergan, West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pfizer, Inc., Egalet Corporation, and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited |
Market Segment Insights
Extended-release segment is accounted the major market share
On the basis of products, the opioids market is segmented into immediate-release (IR)/short-acting and extended-release (ER)/long-acting. The immediate-release/short-acting segment is further sub-divided into products and applications. The IR products sub-segment is further sub-divided into codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, morphine, hydroxymorphone, oxymorphone, propoxyphene and others. The IR applications sub-segment is further sub-divided into pain relief, anesthesia, cough suppression, diarrhea suppression, and de-addiction.
The extended-release segment is accounted largest market share due to increasing use in chronic pain management. But, misuse of these drugs caused serious public health crisis. As a result of this, the U.S. FDA, in September 2018, released its final Opioid Analgesic Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for immediate-release and extended-release opioids which helps in decreasing the rate of addiction and reducing the exposure of these drugs. The extended-release/long-acting segment is further sub-divided into products and applications. The ER products sub-segment is further sub-divided into oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadone, fentanyl, morphine, oxymorphone, tapentadol, buprenorphine, hydromorphone, and others. The ER applications sub-segment is further sub-divided into pain relief, anesthesia, cough suppression, diarrhea suppression, and de-addiction.
Pain relief segment is projected to hold a major market share
Based on applications, the opioids market is divided into pain relief, anesthesia, cough suppression, diarrhea suppression, and de-addiction. The pain relief segment is further sub-divided into cancer pain, postoperative pain management, low-back pain, orthopedic, neuropathic pain, and fibromyalgia.
The pain relief segment is expected to hold a key share of the market during the forecast period owing to high use of pain management therapies. On the other hand, use of products for pain is anticipated to decline in coming years due to implementation of new regulatory framework. Centers for Disease control and Prevention (CDC) has formed new guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain. Based on these guidelines, for chronic pain other than palliative, end-of-life care, and active cancer the non-opioid therapy should be preferred.

Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the market
On the basis of regions, the opioids market is categorized as Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. The market of North America held the largest market share during the forecast period owing to highest consumption in the region. But, the region is witnessing a decline in market share due to increasing initiatives by government to battle the crisis in the U.S. The U.S. government, in June 2018, introduced advertising campaign to battle addiction. Also, opioid products such as Purdue Pharma’ OxyContin are discontinued in Canada and U.S.
On the other hand, the market of Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the market in the coming years due to focus shifting of companies such as Purdue Pharma towards Asia Pacific for enhancing their presence in the market.

Segments
Segments Covered in the Report
The global opioids market has been segmented on the basis of
Products
- Immediate-release/Short-acting
- Products
- Codeine
- Oxycodone
- Hydrocodone
- Fentanyl
- Morphine
- Hydroxymorphone
- Oxymorphone
- Propoxyphene
- Other IR
- Applications
- Pain Relief
- Anesthesia
- Cough Suppression
- Diarrhea Suppression
- De-addiction
- Extended-release/Long-acting
- Products
- Oxycodone
- Hydrocodone
- Methadone
- Fentanyl
- Morphine
- Oxymorphone
- Tapentadol
- Buprenorphine
- Hydromorphone
- Other ER
- Applications
- Pain Relief
- Anesthesia
- Cough Suppression
- Diarrhea Suppression
- De-addiction
Applications
- Pain Relief
- Cancer Pain
- Postoperative Pain Management
- Low-back Pain
- Orthopedic
- Neuropathic Pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Anesthesia
- Cough Suppression
- Diarrhea Suppression
- De-addiction
Regions
- Asia Pacific
- North America
- Latin America
- Europe
- Middle East & Africa
Key Players
- Pharma L.P.
- Allergan
- West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corporation
- Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- Pfizer, Inc.
- Egalet Corporation
- Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited
Competitive Landscape
Key players competing in the opioids market include/are Pharma L.P., Allergan, West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pfizer, Inc., Egalet Corporation, and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited.
Major market players are adopting several business strategies including mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, collaborations, capacity expansion, and product launches to enhance their market shares. For instance, Purdue Pharma is increasing its presences into Middle East & Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Awareness programs are organized by the company in which doctors are advised to prescribe painkillers for helping patients to overcome opiophobia.
