Mizoram Witnesses Dramatic Fall in Drug Abuse Deaths

Aizawl, Jan 10 : Mizoram has witnessed a dramatic fall in the number of deaths due to drug abuse since 2004, thanks to the Young Mizo Association which carried out a sustained anti-drug campaign.

The year 2004 witnessed the highest number of drug related deaths with 122 males and 21 females dying in this year.

According to the records, the number of drug-related death fell to 42, including seven women, in 2005. It further dipped to 22, including one woman, in 2006.

There was a slight increase in 2007 with 29 people, including four women, died in this year. The year 2008 witnessed only 11 drug-related deaths, including two women. It increased in 2009 with 28 deaths, including three women, and fell to 15 deaths.

The first drug-related death was detected in Mizoram in 1984.

Drug abuse has claimed the lives of about 1183 people, including 121 women, in this northeastern state since then.

From 1984 to 1990, 24 people, including one woman, lost their lives-all of them due to heroin and most of them belonging to affluent families.

According to excise narcotics department records, the first death due to abuse of Spasmo Proxyvon, a prominent pain killer, was detected in 1991 and the number increased year by year touching 1,082 till December 31, 2010 since then.

During this period, 84 persons died due to heroin and 17 persons of other drugs, including adhesives. Till 2004, 100 people died on an average every year since 2000.