(Providence, RI) -- The Rhode Island Department of Health is releasing new information on drug overdoses. The department reported on Monday there were 319 deaths caused by prescription drugs and illicit drugs in 2017. That is slightly down from 2016 but still higher than the numbers from 2009 to 2015. The decrease of five-percent is lower than the original decrease health officials predicted in overdose deaths through the first eight months of last year.