America’s current opioid epidemic has a recently revealed morbid silver lining—the dramatic rise in drug overdose deaths is leading to more organ donors.
According to data from the United Network for Organ Sharing, which was reported by U.S. News & World Report, the number of organ donors who died of drug overdose deaths rose by nearly 270 percent (from 230 to 848) between 2006 and 2015.
“It’s a huge increase,” said Alexandra K. Glazier, the New England Organ Bank’s president and chief executive officer. “It’s a silver lining to what is absolutely a tragedy.”
“Many of the families we encounter have been going through this addiction for several years,” she continued. “It’s almost as if the families were preparing for this death; many feel great comfort in knowing that some good has come out of it.”
