Rapid Detection of Illicit Drugs: An Analysis of Research Progress and Prospects

Abstract Rapid detection of illicit drugs has garnered significant attention for its role in preventing and controlling drug abuse, supporting treatment management in healthcare systems, and environmental monitoring. Although various reviews have explored specific methods, samples, or analytes in rapid illicit drug detection, a comprehensive analysis summarizing overall trends in this field remains absent. To support the development and broader application of rapid drug detection technologies, a bibliometric analysis of relevant literature from 2001 to 2023 is conducted, presenting a general bibliometric distribution of studies by year, country, institution, author, journal, and research focus. A more in‐depth overview of recent advances in the three major rapid detection methods for illicit drugs, chromatography&mass spectrometry, electrochemical sensing and optical sensing techniques, is provided. The test mechanism, performance, applicable sample types, and pretreatment methods for each technique are systematically summarized. The integrated applications of each technique with machine learning are also addressed. Finally, the challenges and prospects for further development of rapid detection are discussed.