State health officials: Opioid-related deaths drop nearly 11 percent
Gov. Baker calls the drop in the latest numbers a sign of "continued progress."
BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts Department of Public Health report shows the number of people who have died of opioid-related overdoses fell nearly 11 percent in the first six months of 2019.
The Boston Globe reports the preliminary data was compared to the same period last year, which details a downward trend that started in 2017.
The report also documents how overdose deaths are on a decline despite the growing presence of illicit fentanyl in the drug supply.
Fentanyl was found in 92 percent of the people who died of overdoses and were tested, the highest rate to date.
Gov. Charlie Baker calls the drop in the latest numbers a sign of “continued progress.”
Baker says the state is working to invest more than $246 million into prevention, treatment, recovery and education solutions to the issue.
