New research from University of Utah Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital shows that an increase in drug-overdose related deaths has boosted the number of organs available for transplantation.
Interestingly enough, researchers found that almost all of the increased transplant activity in the United States within the last five years is a result of the drug overdose crisis.
After examining 17 years of transplantation records, researchers found no significant change in the recipients' chance of survival when the organ donation came from victims of drug intoxication. Results of the study were published online on May 17 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers are hopeful that doctors will read the study and feel more confident that organs that pass the required tests are safe for transplant.
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