Newmai News Network
Aizawl | January 30
At least 1,529 people including 173 women have died due to drug abuse in Mizoram since 1984, according to the records of the state Excise & Narcotics department.
Of the 1,529 drug-related deaths, 190 people died from heroin overdose while the rest died due to abuse of Pharmaceutical drugs like Spasmo-proxyvon and Parvon spas, the records said, according to our Aizawl Correspondent Henry L Khojol.
Though Spasmo-proxyvon and Parvon spas were the main killer drugs till 2015, heroin has emerged as the biggest single killer drug during three years from 2016. The record also said that Mizoram recorded maximum number of drug-related deaths in 2004 with 143 people succumbing to addiction. The records also said that at least 56 people, including 10 women were killed due to substance abuse during last year, of which 17 were due to heroin overdose.
During the current year as on January 30, at least 5 people, including a female have died due to drug abuse, the records added. The records further said that at least 2,327 people, including 29 foreigners were arrested in drug related cases during last year.
While 1,482 people were arrested under Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition & Control) Act, 2014, 662 people were booked under Narcotics Drugs & Psychotropics Substance (ND&PS) Act, 1985 and 154 were arrested under Mizoram Excise Act, 1973 during last year, the records said.
An official of Excise & Narcotics Department said that around 8.723 kgs of heroin, 187 kgs of cannabis, 50,504 Alprazolam tablets and more than 11 lakh tablets of Pseudoephedrine were seized during raids in 2018.
Records of Supply Reduction Service (SRS), an anti-drug squad constituted by Young Mizo Association (YMA) said that around 4.242 kgs of heroin, 12 kgs of cannabis and more than 16,000 tablets of Alprozelum were seized during last year by volunteers. SRS convener Peter Chakchhuak said that over Rs 4.90 crore worth drugs were seized by volunteers of SRS during last year and at least 1,323 people were apprehended in drug-related case during the same year.
Of the 1,323 people, 23 were handed over to Excise officials, 7 to police, 154 people were sent to rehabilitation centre and the rest were given counseling, he said. He added that the SRS volunteers also seized about 900 grams of heroin and apprehended 350 people in drug related matter during the current year till 27 January.
Meanwhile, the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) had a pre-poll promise that it would give top priority to combating the growing drug menace in the state if it comes to power. Chief Minister Zoramthanga had said earlier that his government would set up centres for addicts in different parts of the state and have already identified plot of lands for the purposes.
