Public Administration Responses to the Opioid Crisis in Kano State

This study examines the public administration response to the growing opioid and tramadol abuse crisis in Kano State, located in Nigeria's North West geopolitical zone. The abuse of prescription and non-prescription opioids, particularly among youth in urban areas of Kano, has reached crisis proportions with significant public health, security, and economic consequences. Using a descriptive research design, data were collected from 240 health administrators, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officers, community health workers, and affected families across four local government areas. The study employs descriptive analysis and qualitative content analysis of interviews and documentary sources. The Public Health Governance Framework provides the theoretical lens, examining the roles of regulatory, public health, and law enforcement agencies in managing substance use epidemics. Findings reveal significant fragmentation in the government's response, with poor coordination between the Kano State Ministry of Health, the NDLEA, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Inadequate rehabilitation facilities, stigma-driven barriers to treatment-seeking, and the widespread availability of diverted pharmaceutical opioids through unregulated vendors are identified as structural contributors to the crisis. Recommendations include the establishment of a multi-agency opioid crisis task force, increased funding for community rehabilitation centres, and enforcement of pharmaceutical supply chain regulations. Keywords: opioid crisis, drug abuse, public administration, Kano State, public health.