Quo Vadis (Where to), Illicit Drug Testing? Status, Developments, and Perspectives

Abstract

Drug testing is a critical tool used in many settings that span clinical care, employers, forensics, and law enforcement. It strives to accurately identify and quantify drugs with high addiction potential by utilizing the available analytical methods and sensors. This editorial offers an insight into the evolution of drug testing into its current set of methods and looks at the current trends that aim to transform the current practice, with a particular focus on the role of sensors and sensor-based devices. Unmet needs for different use cases are discussed, particularly the need for sensors capable of faster, lower-cost, and more specific detection at the point of need. An overview of the efforts in the state-of-the-art technologies that are developed while aiming to address these needs is presented. The paper aims to encourage further work on devices and sensors in the area and highlights the interests of NIDA.