Abstract: A review on research progress on detection methods (including HPLC, GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, LC-HRMS and so on) and sample pretreatment methods (including liquid liquid extraction, solid phase extraction, dispersed solid phase extraction, column switching and so on) used in the detection of sedative drugs in biological samples in the last 10 years was presented. A brief prospect was also given (45 ref. cited).