Drug overdose deaths are up again in Minnesota. State Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger says there was a 9% rise in drug overdose deaths, not including alcohol, in 2016. And there were 637 drug overdose deaths last year, compared to 583 in 2015. 376 of those deaths were opioid-related. Ehlinger says that on the average day, nearly two people died in Minnesota from a drug overdose in 2016. The health department today announced a new online “Opioid Dashboard” meant to share information about statewide efforts to prevent the epidemic from growing any further.