Drugs of abuse in drinking water – a review of current detection methods, occurrence, elimination and health risks

•Drugs of abuse are reported at trace levels (ng/L) in raw and drinking waters globally.•Current drinking water treatments cannot completely remove some drugs of abuse.•Human health risks regarding the long term exposure of these contaminants in drinking water cannot be ruled out.•Studies regarding the analysis of new emerging drugs in drinking water are needed.•A review of analytical methodologies for the determination of drugs of abuse in drinking water shows that SPE and LC-MS/MS is generally used.