Current research trends in green analytical tools for the detection of selected illicit drugs in different matrices

Green analytical tools originated from the principles of green chemistry. Over time, the green analytical techniques evolved into practices that reduce the environmental impact of hazardous chemicals and increase the chemical analysis's efficiency, specificity, and rapidity. Narcotics are potent analgesics often abused due to their side effects. These drugs induce a state of stupor and have a euphoric effect on the abusers. Green analytical tools are the emerging techniques that reduce the consumption of chemicals, decrease the analysis time and utilize the direct method of analysis and combinative techniques to reduce the sample preparation and pre-treatment processes. This article discusses the utilization of green analytical tools for the detection and analysis of narcotics drugs. The green analytical techniques can be classified into four categories based on their analytical strategies: chromatographic tools, microextraction-based techniques, spectroscopic tools, and sensor-based tools. When compared with their conventional counterparts, these techniques consume less energy and are more efficient, require minimal space, and are more advanced. The research trends indicated that for the analysis of the narcotics substances, green analytical tools need to be developed as the existing trends focus more on conventional methods that may compromise the integrity of analytes or have more adverse effects upon the environment. This review paper focuses on researches that span in the last 6 years of studies. A selected few researches have also been cited in this review paper that date back to almost 10 years.