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Key instrumental techniques such as gas chromatography\u2013mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography\u2013tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS\/MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were evaluated alongside novel sensor-based technologies. Relevant case studies were examined to highlight clinical and forensic implications. Findings: The major classes of designer drugs include synthetic cathinones, cannabinoids, benzodiazepines, phenidate derivatives, and dissociatives. Traditional analytical methods provide high sensitivity and selectivity but face challenges like matrix effects, derivatization needs, and limited on-site applicability. Emerging sensor technologies, including molecularly imprinted polymers and aptamer-based biosensors, offer rapid and portable alternatives for field testing. GC-MS and LC-MS\/MS remain the gold standards for confirmatory testing, while innovative nano-enabled sensors show promise for real-time detection and point-of-care diagnostics. Conclusion: Continuous evolution of designer drugs necessitates adaptable analytical strategies. Integration of advanced sensor platforms with established chromatographic methods and strengthened inter-laboratory validation can enhance global surveillance and improve public health responses to NPS abuse.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.34172\/ahj.1707","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T10:45:21Z","timestamp":1792061121000},"page":"1707","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.34172\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Psychoactive Substances: Analytical Strategies for the Identification of Designer Drugs in Forensic and Clinical Contexts"],"prefix":"10.34172","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-9717-2834","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Danta","family":"Sreesahithi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9314-2459","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Nalanda","family":"Revu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-9107-8400","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Kushita","family":"Neduri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"20123","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"R1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00204-020-02693-7"},{"key":"R2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/chromsci\/29.1.31"},{"key":"R3","first-page":"121","article-title":"Simultaneous determination of amphetamines and amphetamine-derived designer drugs in human urine by GC-MS","volume":"27 Suppl 2","author":"Maresov\u00e1 V","year":"2006","journal-title":"Neuro Endocrinol Lett"},{"key":"R4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2005.07.019"},{"key":"R5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2004.08.010"},{"key":"R6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1556-4029.2007.00401.x"},{"key":"R7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11419-006-0001-7"},{"key":"R8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/chromsci\/45.8.466"},{"key":"R9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/1556-4029.15299"},{"key":"R10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.talanta.2017.11.020"},{"key":"R11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2008.09.012"},{"key":"R12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11419-018-0422-0"},{"key":"R13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/1556-4029.14789"},{"key":"R14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2009.05.001"},{"key":"R15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fchem.2020.00624"},{"key":"R16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11419-015-0270-0"},{"key":"R17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s40543-017-0128-7"},{"key":"R18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/s0378-4347(96)00183-1"},{"key":"R19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/jat\/20.7.568"},{"key":"R20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/s0379-0738(01)00452-2"},{"key":"R21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.talanta.2019.120347"},{"key":"R22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1039\/c3ay40892b"},{"key":"R23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2019.110044"},{"key":"R24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jchromb.2011.11.007"},{"key":"R25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0378-4347(91)80454-k"},{"key":"R26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0731-7085(93)80036-z"},{"key":"R27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1021\/acsomega.2c00087"},{"key":"R28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/dta.268"},{"key":"R29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wiley JL, Marusich JA, Huffman JW, Balster RL, Thomas BF. 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