49 died of alcohol abuse in 6 months in dry Mizoram: Official
Aizawl, Jul 20 (PTI) At least 49 people have died of complications related to alcohol consumption between January and June this year in dry Mizoram, a senior official said on Sunday.
The government has been making massive efforts to curb the menace of drug, alcohol and other substance abuse, Excise and Narcotics department Commissioner Z Lalhmangaiha said.
'According to our records, 49 people, including five women, died because of complications related to alcohol consumption between January and June this year in the state," Lalhmangaiha said.
The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act prohibits the manufacture, consumption, sale and import of liquor in the state. However, a section of people either brew it locally or bring it from outside Mizoram illegally.
Lalhmangaiha said that inspections are being carried out at hotels and restaurants to find out if they are selling alcohol in violation of the law.
The commissioner said that department officials are regularly conducting night patrolling in Aizawl and other district headquarters to ensure peace in the society. PTI COR NN
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
'This Is Just The Start': Luka Doncic's Wild Transformation Underlines Thirst For NBA Success With Lakers
Last Updated: Doncic, 26, has committed to rigorous workouts, transforming himself for the upcoming season. He is also expected to sign a four-year extension with the Lakers. Luka Doncic, at just 26, has already built a Hall of Fame resume: five All-NBA First Team selections, 82 career triple-doubles (seventh all-time). Yet, one narrative has lingered — his fitness. For years, despite his elite production, Doncic's physique drew more attention than his stat lines. Critics pointed to his offseason weight fluctuations, and last August, he was publicly criticized for looking 'fat" during a charity game. When the Mavericks traded him to the Lakers in February, whispers followed — stories about his off-court habits, including beer, hookah, and even speculation that he was on Ozempic. But this summer, the conversation has changed — dramatically. Doncic spoke candidly to Men's Health's, revealing that he launched straight into two-a-day workouts the moment the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Minnesota. 'Obviously, I'm very competitive. This summer was just a little bit different, you know. It kind of motivated me to be even better." The Slovenian star also admitted he didn't fully grasp the demands of the NBA during his early years, which ultimately led to his fitness declining over the initial years. 'When I came to the NBA, I was 18," he said. 'Honestly, I didn't know what to expect those first four or five years. Then I said, 'I need to do this.'" 'Especially in the NBA, you travel almost all the time. You're never home," he explained. 'And for me, you know, after the season, going back home, it's a big thing. I see my friends, my family, I see everybody. So it's not easy for sure." But now, Doncic is embracing the challenge. His approach to fitness is no longer reactive — it's foundational. 'Obviously, be the best that I can be, take care of myself," he said. 'This year, with my team, I think we did a huge step. But this is just the start, you know. I need to keep going. Can't stop." Lakers Betting Big on a Revitalized Star With LeBron James nearing the twilight of his career, the Lakers are entering a new era — one with Doncic as the centerpiece. And they're backing that vision with long-term commitment. According to recent reports, Doncic is expected to sign a four-year contract extension with the Lakers when he becomes eligible on August 2. Now, along with his newfound dedication to fitness, the Lakers will be more than happy to blindly sign who they perceive to be the face of their franchise (and the league) for years to come. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Punjab to implement drug prevention curriculum for students of Classes 9-12
Chandigarh, Jul 28 (PTI) The Punjab government will roll out a pioneering drug prevention curriculum for students of Classes 9 to 12 in all government schools. The move is part of the third phase of the ongoing 'Yudh Nashian Virudh" drive, Minister of School Education Harjot Singh Bains said here on Monday. Bains said Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will launch the statewide drug prevention curriculum on August 1 at Arniwala in Fazilka district. Giving details about the curriculum, Bains, according to a an official statement, further stated that 'this pioneering programme, created by the Nobel laureate Prof Abhijit Banerjee-led organisation J-PAL South Asia, will empower around eight lakh students in Classes 9 to 12 with prevention-focused skills to combat substance abuse". 'The curriculum will consist of 35-minute sessions, held every fortnight for 27 weeks, and will feature a mix of engaging content, including documentaries, quizzes, posters, and interactive activities. These sessions will focus on key areas such as myth-busting, refusal strategies, and resisting peer pressure, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions," he said. Bains said that the drugs prevention programme will have a wide reach, covering 3,658 schools and engaging over 6,500 trained teachers to empower approximately eight lakh students from Classes 9 to 12. This comprehensive programme will ensure a significant impact on Punjab's education system, equipping students with essential skills to say no to substance abuse, he said. 'This initiative is grounded in evidence, developed with leading behavioural scientists, and evaluated through randomised trials conducted in 78 government schools in Amritsar and Tarn Taran during FY 2024-25," he said. These trials covered 9,600 students and, evaluated by J-PAL South Asia, yielded significant results. The trials demonstrated a marked improvement in addiction risk awareness, with 90 percent of students recognising the high risk of addiction from trying 'chitta' even once, compared to 69 percent in the control group, the minister added. 'Additionally, the trial successfully debunked myths about addiction, with the belief that addiction can be overcome by willpower alone dropping from 50 percent to 20 percent," Bains said. 'Punjab becomes the first state in India to implement a statewide, evidence-based drug prevention curriculum, while recognising that the battle against drugs begins from the classroom, not in police stations," he said. Meanwhile, the Education Minister shared the details about the 'Yudh Nashian Virudh" campaign launched in March this year. He said that the state government has taken stringent actions, including putting over 23,000 drug peddlers behind bars, seizing their properties, and confiscating over 1,000 kg of heroin. These efforts demonstrate the government's dedication to tackling the drug menace and securing a brighter future for Punjab's youth, he added. PTI SUN NB NB view comments First Published: July 28, 2025, 22:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Hepatitis B: Only 3 per cent patients aware, experts call for action
New Delhi, Jul 28 (PTI) With less than 1 per cent of the eligible hepatitis-B patients receiving treatment in India and only 3 per cent being aware of their condition, health experts on Monday called for systemic action to curb the spread of the disease. Calling the situation a 'silent epidemic", Rajesh Bhushan, former health secretary and chairperson of the Illness to Wellness Foundation, said, 'These are not just statistics. They represent thousands of preventable deaths and an unaddressed public health emergency." Speaking at the 'Illness to Wellness" awareness conference, Bhushan stressed the need for expanded screening, timely birth-dose vaccination, decentralised treatment access, community-level awareness and the use of real-time data, adding that systemic action is essential to curb the spread of hepatitis and meet the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2030 elimination target. The conference was organised on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day. During the discussion, the panellists highlighted that globally, only 45 per cent of newborns receive the hepatitis-B vaccine within 24 hours — a critical window for prevention. Dr S K Sarin, Senior Professor, Department of Hepatology, and Director, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, said the liver is not just a metabolic organ, it also plays a key role in preventing the development of cancers. Today, one in two persons in Delhi and one in three across the country reports persistent fatigue, which may be linked to liver health. He explained that two viruses — hepatitis A, which typically affects children, and hepatitis E, which affects adults — are both preventable with access to clean water and safe food. 'We can prevent both hepatitis A and E. While there is no vaccine for hepatitis E, we do have a vaccine for hepatitis A," Sarin said. Talking about the chronic forms of the disease, he noted that hepatitis B, C and D are transmitted through blood and body fluids, with hepatitis B being largely passed from the mother to the child. A person being diagnosed with hepatitis B at the age of 30 is a common scenario today, he added. 'We ask, how did he get it? The answer often lies in vertical transmission. You cannot choose your mother and most likely, if you have hepatitis B, you inherited it at birth. Today, about 95 per cent hepatitis-B cases are due to mother-to-child transmission," Sarin said. He added that hepatitis C is also transmitted through blood and body fluids, but unlike B and D, it is curable. A three-month course of treatment can cure most hepatitis-C cases and this treatment is covered under the national programme. The conference, based on the theme of 'Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatitis", brought together health professionals, policymakers and civil-society leaders for a panel discussion on India's hepatitis burden and strategies to bridge treatment gaps and combat stigma. Dr D S Rana, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, and an advisory council member of the foundation, said, 'As we heard from the experts, a liver failure has no full treatment except a liver transplant and even partial treatments are extremely expensive and inaccessible for most." 'The reality is that hepatitis is a preventable disease and prevention is our strongest alternative. Over the last 75 years, medical science has made remarkable progress in understanding such diseases, but the key lies in public awareness and early action," he added. Anil Rajput, the chairperson of the foundation's advisory council, linked hepatitis prevention with broader national programmes. 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Har Ghar Jal Yojana and Eat Right India are already reshaping the landscape. These initiatives are critical in reducing risk factors like poor sanitation, unsafe drinking water and food-borne infections," he said. PTI NSM RC view comments First Published: July 28, 2025, 22:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
