Overdose Rate Improves

West Virginia’s death toll from drug overdoses has improved slightly, with 872 deaths last year. The state hit a grim record in 2016 of 887 fatal overdoses, or 52 per 100,000 residents, the highest drug-related death toll in the nation. Public Health Commissioner Dr. Rahul Gupta says he’s cautiously optimistic about progress with new laws to limit painkiller prescriptions, improving overdose reporting and equiping all emergency responders with opioid antidotes.