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Electrochemical sensors for substance use disorder: Towards forensic, timely, and high throughput analysis.

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Title: Electrochemical sensors for substance use disorder: Towards forensic, timely, and high throughput analysis.
Authors: Ike, Blessing Wisdom1,2 (AUTHOR), Adu, Darko Kwabena2 (AUTHOR), Alake, John2 (AUTHOR), Miya, Lungelo2 (AUTHOR), Nate, Zondi3 (AUTHOR), Chauhan, Ruchika2 (AUTHOR), Karpoormath, Rajshekhar1,2 (AUTHOR) Karpoormath@ukzn.ac.za, Faya, Mbuso1 (AUTHOR) FayaA@ukzn.ac.za
Source: Microchemical Journal. Aug2025, Vol. 215, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Electrochemical sensors, Drug traffic, Substance abuse, Hazardous substances, Quality control
Abstract: [Display omitted] • This work presents the crucial requirement for efficient substance detection techniques in the face of SUD epidemiology. • The study covered traditional, novel substances and standard analysis techniques in substance abuse. • The paper highlights the potential of electrochemical sensors as a quick, economical, and ecologically friendly analytical tool. • This study fills the gap between creative solutions and epidemiological challenges. • This study showed that cross-disciplinary research is an essential tool for addressing complex forensic difficulties effectively. The global use of psychoactive substances remains a concern for both communities and authorities worldwide. Substance use disorders (SUD) are common patterns of hazardous abuse of substances with any mood-altering implications. The impact resonates across continents, claiming the sombre title of one of the leading contributors to global escalating mortality, marking over 3 million lives (according to the World Health Organisation). Substances of abuse has expanded significantly in recent years and is now leading as an emerging contaminant. Many hallmarks, such as socioeconomic status, access to conventional and unconventional psychoactive substances, and their resurgence as a psychedelic-assisted treatment option, quality control, policy, legislation, media, and digital landscape, may have orchestrated the proliferation and advancement of SUD. Hence, rapid analytical techniques for drug substances are crucial for diagnosis, treatment monitoring, impeding drug trafficking, quality control, and the reduction of availability of illegal substances in the drug market as well as the environment. Detecting illicit drugs in biological fluids, wastewater, and confiscated samples is crucial at such a time. The portability, versatility, environmental consciousness, and low cost of electrochemical sensors have emerged as promising tools for these applications. In this review, we explore the epidemiology and responses to SUD, and the development and application of electrochemical sensors for conventional, unconventional, illicit, repurposed, plant-based, spontaneous cocktail detections and psychedelic-assisted SUD treatment and monitoring in forensic contexts, focusing mainly on voltammetric electrochemical-based sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:[Display omitted] • This work presents the crucial requirement for efficient substance detection techniques in the face of SUD epidemiology. • The study covered traditional, novel substances and standard analysis techniques in substance abuse. • The paper highlights the potential of electrochemical sensors as a quick, economical, and ecologically friendly analytical tool. • This study fills the gap between creative solutions and epidemiological challenges. • This study showed that cross-disciplinary research is an essential tool for addressing complex forensic difficulties effectively. The global use of psychoactive substances remains a concern for both communities and authorities worldwide. Substance use disorders (SUD) are common patterns of hazardous abuse of substances with any mood-altering implications. The impact resonates across continents, claiming the sombre title of one of the leading contributors to global escalating mortality, marking over 3 million lives (according to the World Health Organisation). Substances of abuse has expanded significantly in recent years and is now leading as an emerging contaminant. Many hallmarks, such as socioeconomic status, access to conventional and unconventional psychoactive substances, and their resurgence as a psychedelic-assisted treatment option, quality control, policy, legislation, media, and digital landscape, may have orchestrated the proliferation and advancement of SUD. Hence, rapid analytical techniques for drug substances are crucial for diagnosis, treatment monitoring, impeding drug trafficking, quality control, and the reduction of availability of illegal substances in the drug market as well as the environment. Detecting illicit drugs in biological fluids, wastewater, and confiscated samples is crucial at such a time. The portability, versatility, environmental consciousness, and low cost of electrochemical sensors have emerged as promising tools for these applications. In this review, we explore the epidemiology and responses to SUD, and the development and application of electrochemical sensors for conventional, unconventional, illicit, repurposed, plant-based, spontaneous cocktail detections and psychedelic-assisted SUD treatment and monitoring in forensic contexts, focusing mainly on voltammetric electrochemical-based sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:0026265X
DOI:10.1016/j.microc.2025.114224