The annual "Health of Boston" report by the city's Public Health Commission showed a 27 percent decrease in new AIDS cases and a 20 percent decrease in the AIDS death rate among whites between 1999 and 2001. Deputy Director Barbara Ferrer said the drop in new AIDS cases is the result of better treatments, but the numbers for new HIV infections do not show the same drop, indicating drug use remains a problem. And overall in the city, AIDS deaths increased 13 percent over the two years, with blacks and Hispanics showing large increases. Overall AIDS deaths jumped by about the same percentage statewide in 2001. The report also showed a 45 percent hike in deaths from drugs, with the largest increase among white men. Statewide, drug overdose deaths increased by 22 percent in 2001.

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