The number of fatal drug overdoses in Massachusetts during the first three months of this year dropped slightly from the same period a year ago.
The state said Wednesday there were 447 likely drug overdose deaths in the first three months of 2017, a ten percent drop from the same period a year ago.
In the same report, however, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said there 2,069 overdose deaths last year, a 16 percent increase from 2015.
Gov. Charlie Baker last year signed landmark legislation to combat the opioid crisis by limiting initial pain pill prescriptions to a five-day supply.
" The status quo is unacceptable and it needs to be disrupted," Baker said in late 2015 as he urged the legislature to appove the bill he filed.
More than 70 percent of the overdose deaths are now caused by fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid.
