Aizawl: At least 232 people died of drug abuse in Mizoram in five years since 2013 till March 5 this year, Mizoram excise and narcotics minister R. Lalzirliana told the Assembly on Thursday.
Most of the drugs were smuggled from Southeast Asian countries, especially Myanmar, while a substantial quantity also entered from Bangladesh by plane, Lalzirliana said, replying to K. Beichhua of the Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF).
He said the state government is making massive efforts to combat the menace, along with civil society groups.
According to officials of the excise and narcotics department, over 1,460 people, including 163 women, have died of drug abuse in 34 years since 1984.
The main killer drug was Proxyvon/Parvonspas, followed by heroin.
However, recently, heroin replaced Proxyvon as the main killer drug.
According to the department's records, at least 65 people, including 12 women, died of substance abuse in the state last year.
Of them, 28 people died from heroin overdose while the rest died due to abuse of other narcotics.
Civil bodies like the Young Mizo Association (YMA) are trying to curb the menace in the state.
The report, which was released recently, said over 6kg of heroin and 391kg of ganja were seized during last year.
Apart from these, over 1.59 lakh tablets of pseudoephedrine, 13,400 tablets of methamphetamine, 4m034 capsules of Dextropropoxyphene and several other drugs were also seized during the same year.