Churachandpur records 317 overdose cases since 2005, claims 34

CCPur, September 3,2 014: In what could possibly be a disquieting development, a Church backed NGO from Churachandpur during the International Overdose Awareness Day observation revealed that they have attended to over 294 cases of overdose in the district for the past nine years with some as young as 3.

The Lamka Rehabilitation and Research Centre (LRRC) said it’s Crisis Response Team (OD Management Team) has since 2005 received and attended 294 crisis calls on overdose cases.

Detailing their data the LRRC report said, "out of the 294 cases - 279 were male and 15 were female, 172 of them were single, 93 married and 29 of them were divorced. The youngest being 3 years, 69 of them were between 3-25 years and 225 were above 26 years of age."

The NGO has also recorded 23 fatal cases of overdose during the same period where their service was not sought at and therefore taking the overdose death tally to 34 and the cases of overdose to 317.

"Had the LRRC- CRT 24x7 OD helpline number has been called, around 23 youths could have been saved," asserted the report and called the officials from the law enforcing agencies, leaders from religious and social bodies, medical and the Media fraternity to immediately call their helpline numbers in any OD cases.

The day’s observance was marked by unveiling of a commemorative T Shirt with the LRRC-CRT’s 2014 Slogan ‘Zero OD Death’ printed on it.

Candle light memorial service for the 34 youths who have died of overdose was also held during the occasion.

Clarifying on the case of a 3-year-old, a representative from the CRT today said the child had accidentally consume a drug which was in the possession of his parents. He also claimed that only 3 to 4 of the OD cases involved below 18 years of age.

Source: The Sangai Express