Author: Auwalu Sani Salihu

SUBSTANCE abuse has emerged as one of the most serious but insufficiently addressed public health and social challenges confronting Kano State today. What was once considered a marginal problem confined to a small segment of society has now become a widespread issue affecting adolescents, young adults, families, and communities across both urban and rural areas. The consequences extend far beyond individual health, touching on crime, insecurity, productivity loss, family breakdown, and increasing pressure on already stretched health and social systems. The Scale of the Problem Nigeria has one of the highest burdens of substance use in Africa. According to the…