Spurious liquor claims thousands of live in last eight years

Aizawl, June 21 (UNI) The Mizoram State Excise Department has reported 1078 deaths in connection with drugs and 44 due to consumption of spurious liquor during the last eight years in the state despite Total Liquor Prohibition Act.

According to statistics of the State Excise department, 44 deaths related to hooch has been reported since a Total Liquor Prohibition Act was imposed on February 20, 1997. Among those died were 37 males and seven females.

In 1984 the first drug abuse-related deaths were recorded in the state. Since then the toll has gone upto to 1078.

Of the total deaths due to drug abuse, pain killer Proxyvon claimed a total of 1005 lives, while 57 died due to overdose of Heroin and 16 due to in-take of Marijuana and Glue sniffing.

In all 970 males and 108 females have turned out to be the victims of such lethal drugs. It is also found out that mostly youngsters below the age of 30 have died in the last few years by consuming drugs and spurious liquors.

The death toll in this context fell drastically in 2005-2006 after the leading NGOs in the state launched a joint campaign against these lethal drug substances. Compared to 143 deaths in 2004, 2005-2006 recorded only 42 deaths.

Despite Total Liquor Prohibition Act, the state government has issued permits to drink alcohol on medical grounds to 1911 persons.

Of these, 1782 are ex-servicemen and 129 civilians.

UNI SNR PP/TJP SS1334