Drugs claims more than 1000 lives in Mizoram

Aizawl, Aug 21: Misuse of drugs in the state by the youngsters has so far claimed more than 1000 lives in Mizoram.

According to the statistics given by the state exicise department here today, about 1092 drug-related deaths have recorded during the past two decades and the first drug related death was registered in the state in 1984.

Of these, 1017 are related to abuse of pain killer proxyvon, 57 to heroin overdose and 16 others from marijuana and glue sniffing.

The record further shows that the drug victims are included 970 males and 108 females. And most of the deaths related to drugs abuse occurred among the young people, mostly below the age of 30.

The officials also mentioned that 14 people including a woman died this year so far.

While the number of drug related deaths reached its peak in 2000, and declained to 92 in 2002, it rose up again in 2003 and 2004 where the deaths recorded were 136 each.

Total prohabition was imposed in the state since February 1997, as liquor aggravated the drug related problems even as the state government, which has been under pressure from the powerful church refused to lift the dry law.

Mizoram with its close proximity with Myanmar, the conduit for drug trafficking from the infamous Golden Triangle, was extremely concrened about the nefarious narcotic smuggling.

UNI