Drug overdose takes seven more lives

Rhode Island – Rhode Island Health officials say 7 more people died from drug overdose in 5 days, bringing the total deaths so far this year to 45. Dr. Michael Fine, Director of the Department of Health of Rhode Island, announced the deaths on Wednesday during a community meeting on the prevention of overdose held at the Miriam Hospital in Providence and attended by police and health authorities. Fine said the painkiller, fentanyl is available only by prescription, was detected in the blood of 28 people who died. Fentanyl is blamed for dozens of overdose deaths recently reported in the country, including more than 80 people who died after injecting heroin with fentanyl.