Drug Abuse On The Rise In Mizoram

Drug abuse, over the past three decades, has taken an endemic form in most of the states of the Northeast and gradually it has been on the rise in the entire region. With over a 1,400 deaths due to drug abuse in Mizoram since 1984, a recent survey has revealed that drug abuse in Mizoram has been showing an upward trend.

- NET Bureau

One of the most serious challenges that the modern-day society is facing is that of drug abuse. This multifaceted phenomenon greatly affects the social, private, and psychological behavior of an individual in particular and the society in general. The drug culture tends to isolate the drug abuser from the general normative structure of the society, which they consider hostile and by whom they are often considered alien or deviant.

In the last two decades, the tentacles of drug abuse have spread so alarmingly that it is causing serious concern to the international community. Drug abuse is now no longer limited to traditional user -groups, the youths of the industrialised urban areas.

In a consultative meeting on drug menace organised by the central committee of Young Mizo Association (Central YMA) involving ministers, government top officials and church leaders in Aizawl, it has come to light that over 1,400 people have died due to drug abuse in Mizoram since 1984 when the first drug-related death due to heroin was detected.

Central YMA vice president Vanlaruata further informed that at least 1,456 people, including 156 females, have died due to drug abuse (in 34 years) since 1984 till July 2017 and presently there are 2080 people affected by drugs who have been put up at several rehab centres in Mizoram. He said that the main killer drug in the state was spasmo proxyvon followed by heroin.