Aizawl, May 7 : Despite prohibition in force since 1997, there have been 938 drug-related deaths in Mizoram with social workers feeling that the law has done more harm than good.
With the imposition of dry law more young people go for cheaper drugs since they cannot afford the exorbitant price of liquor, the social activists aver.
While 938 deaths took place in past 12 years, spurious liquor also took a toll of 58 lives during the time, official reports said.
The social activists point out the anomaly between the prices of cheap IMFL in the state and neighbouring Assam.
Social activist PL Liandinga says that banning alcohol prompts the youth to opt for drugs like Roxyvon, cheaper and not to be easily detected.
“The state government not only loses around Rs 60 crore per annum from excise duty on liquor, the society loses many lives who go for drugs, a state excise and narcotics official said.
While annual drug-related deaths were recorded at an average of 15 to 20 in the early 1990s, the figure has gone up to 84 and 89 in 1998 and 1999 respectively and a high of 139 in the year 2000.
Around 99 per cent of those killed due to drug abuse were addicted to Spasmo Proxyvon, which was used intravenously.
Death due to abuse of Proxivon was first detected in 1990 and the figure went up ever since.
PTI
0 comments:
Post a Comment