Recent Studies on Optical and Electrochemical Sensors for On-Site Detection of Methamphetamine

Universally, the usage of unlawful drugs is one of the serious matters that reduces the prosperity and health of the users and communities. Methamphetamine (MAPA) is one of the illicit drugs that is fabricated in clandestine laboratories. It is considered one of the most harmful drugs spreading among youths around the globe. Therefore, the development of sophisticated sensing technology for its rapid and accurate detection is required. Sensors consist mainly of a recognition element, a transduction element and a signal processor for detecting MAPA and recording its chemical concentration. Different chemical sensors, such as optical, magnetic, thermal and electrochemical sensors have been utilized. They differ in the working mechanism and the type of measured signal. The aim of this review is to provide a summary of the up-to-date advancements in optical and electrochemical sensors that have been used for MAPA detection in different samples, particularly from 2012 to 2025.