Michigan opioid crisis contributes to increased organ donors

Organs from people who died from an opioid overdose helped fuel an increase in organ donations in Michigan last year.

Overdose victims are often younger than typical donors and can have healthy organs despite their addictions, said Betsy Miner-Swartz, communications specialist for Gift of Life Michigan. The state's federally designated organ and tissue recovery program has been tracking organs received from overdose victims since 2007. 

"Obviously it's extremely tragic," said Miner-Swartz, speaking about the opioid crisis across the U.S. "But one of the positive things that is coming from it is that people who died of drug overdose can and do qualify to be organ donors so they are able to save the lives — each of them — of up to eight people."

The increased number of organs donated after an overdose death is seen right across the country, said Miner-Swartz. 

The program said Michigan had 320 donors last year, a 26 per cent increase from the 254 donors in 2014. More than 50 of last year's donors died by drug overdose, an increase from 20 in 2014.

"The drugs affect the brain," said Miner-Swartz, adding that usually the rest of the person's organs are healthy and useable. 

"The organs are flushed with fluids during the donation process and the patients are screened for infectious diseases. The functionality of the organ is tested by the transplant centres," she said. 

Technology improvements have also allowed for better disease detection, which makes more organs available for transplantation.

Improved procedures at transplant centres and organ procurement organizations have ensured more potential donors and their families have the opportunity to contribute.

Miner-Swartz said some organs from Michigan do come across the border to Canada and vice versa, but she said it happens infrequently.