Drug overdose deaths in Alaska jump 38.68% in a year as nationwide rate drops 14%

Overdose deaths dropped nationally for the second straight year with only five states reporting increases — with Alaska topping those states with a 38.68% increase in deaths for the 12-month period ending June 30, according to data released Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nationwide overdose deaths dropped 14% to about 97,000, compared to 113,000 the previous year, the CDC reported. In Alaska there were 398 deaths for the year-long…