The number of drug overdose deaths rose slightly in Jefferson County in 2017, but the increase was not as dramatic as it was in previous years.

Heroin and fentanyl deaths saw a small decline, while methamphetamine and cocaine deaths climbed. There was a significant decrease in prescription opioid deaths.

Preliminary numbers released by the Jefferson County Coroner's Office indicate there were 267 total overdose deaths, up from 248 in 2016.

The agency will publish a more complete drug overdose report in its annual report, which should be released in March or April and will include breakdowns by city, gender, race and age.

Nearly 64,000 people died from an overdose in 2016, according to most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 42,000 of those fatal overdoses in 2016 are attributed to opioids such as heroin, fentanyl and other prescription painkillers.

At a press conference this week, Sheriff Mike Hale addressed the opioid crisis.

Jefferson County's latest tally is a 7 percent increase over 2016. In 2015, there were 221 deaths.

In 2017, there were 98 fatal heroin overdoses, down two from the 100 in 2016. There were 97 in 2015.

The number of fentanyl deaths dropped by one, from 105 in 2016 to 104 last year. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used for the relief and management of severe and continued pain. It is frequently prescribed to cancer patients and patients recovering from accidents and operations. The euphoric effects, experts say, are indistinguishable from morphine and heroin.

Fentanyl is estimated to be to 200 times more potent than morphine, and about 50 times stronger than heroin.

Other drug overdoses in Jefferson County included: cocaine, 59; methamphetamine 35 and prescription opioids, 9.

There was a 7 percent increase in cocaine deaths compared to 55 the previous year. Methamphetamine deaths jumped by 60 percent, up from 22 in 2016.

There were 9 prescription opioid deaths in 2017, down from 22 the previous year. There were 74 in 2015.

Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates pointed out that often drug overdoses are found to be a combination of illicit drugs, prescription medication, alcohol and/or other poisons.

"The nine prescription opioid deaths represent only those deaths where the cause of death was only due to a prescription opioid toxicity but, this is not a good representation of the opioid problem that exists is in our communities,'' he said.

The coroner's office often finds prescription opioids mixed with other illicit drugs that cause death, but those deaths are not represented in the group with the nine because they also contain other types of illicit drugs.

"The frequency in which we are seeing prescription opioids mixed with other illicit drugs,'' he said, "gives evidence that prescription opioid abuse is still a significant problem in Jefferson County."