Given the task definition and input, reply with output. Generate an explanation for the given claim using the provided supporting material from the paragraph. Please consider the following points while generating an output. 1) The claim will always have supporting proof in the paragraph, and the paragraph will have a clear point of view supporting the claim. 2) There can be instances where direct correlation to the claim is not available. Make use of the sentences in the paragraph to provide a corresponding output supporting the claim. 3) The explanation should be at least one and at most twelve sentences long.

Paragraph: There were 308 accidental drug overdose deaths in 2019, down from 314 during 2018, and down from a high of 336 in 2016, according to preliminary numbers released by the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals. About 83%, or 256 of last year's deaths, involved opioids, the agency said. "We are pleased to see that the numbers are down for the third straight year," the agency's acting director, Kathryn Power, said in an emailed statement. "At the same time, we know that we are still fighting an overdose epidemic, and as we grapple with the coronavirus today, it's more important than ever that we keep our actions focused and connect Rhode Islanders with critical resources and support." Before the current reduction that began in 2017, accidental drug overdose deaths increased 143%, from 138 in 2009 to 336 in 2016. Claim: Overdose deaths down slightly last year compared to 2018.
The number of accidental drug overdose deaths in Rhode Island dropped slightly last year when compared to 2018, and are down more than 8% since 2016, state officials announced Wednesday.