Opioid Epidemic Creates Spike In Organ Donation
We have been taught to believe there is a silver lining around every dark cloud. One of the darkest clouds our nation faces is the ever-growing opioid epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 20 Americans die every day because of opioid use or more likely misuse.
That's a pretty dark cloud. Here comes the unique silver lining. In an odd twist of fate, these untimely opioid deaths are creating a spike in the organ donation market. Do you really want the organ of a drug abuser implanted in your body? Well, according to medical community a damaged organ is better than no organ.
Obviously, each organ is scrutinized before any transplant procedure would ever be ordered. What medical professionals have found in many cases is that because the donors were young the organs removed from their bodies can actually recover from the misuse of drugs.
The Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency suggests that the current opioid epidemic has improved organ donation by 40%. That's good news for those currently on waiting lists to receive the organs they need just to live. It's also very sad news that so many are losing their lives to addiction.