The opioid epidemic is a national tragedy, but there is one small but significant silver lining: organ donations
addiction sweeping America is devastating. It kills around 60,000 people annually, far more than the number who die in traffic accidents or from gun violence. It has contributed to three years of falling American life expectancy—the first such sustained fall since the first world war. But there is one small but significant silver lining: organ donations. In 2017 one in eight deceased organ donors in America died from an overdose, compared to one in 100 in 2000.
Fatal drug overdoses usually kill by starving the brain of oxygen. As far as organ donation is concerned, brain death is the more useful kind. That is because it takes some time for the heart to register the loss of brain function and stop beating—at which point organs begin to deteriorate rapidly. Moreover, the opioid epidemic has been concentrated among younger middle-class people, who are in otherwise good overall health.
That, luckily, is becoming less of a problem. Thanks to new technology, it is easier to know whether a donor was infected with a disease. In the past, tests were not sensitive enough to pick upor hepatitis C if the infection had been acquired in the previous six months or so. The testing methods used today may miss only infections picked up in the previous week. And if they were infected, it matters less too.
As a result, more patients agree to transplants from donors who they know are infected. Last year, they included Robert Montgomery a transplant surgeon at the New York University Langone medical centre, who got a heart transplant from a donor who he knew had hepatitis C. Dr Montgomery became infected and then cured of the virus.
All this is good news for the 6,500 Americans who die on the waiting list for transplants each year—as well as for the 114,000 who are currently on the list, most of whom will not get lucky this year . And for some of the families bereaved by the opioids tragedy, the possibility that their loved ones may give a new lease of life to others may be a flicker of light in the darkness.
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
America’s opioid legal blitz is a smoking messOverdose deaths are surging, Oklahoma won a $270 mln settlement, and a blizzard of lawsuits is bearing down on makers and distributors of the drug. It recalls the tobacco crisis that ended with a $206 bln pact. Yet proving liability and apportioning blame will be much harder.
Weiterlesen »
Analysis | The Health 202: Drug maker accuses FDA of hampering its medication for opioid treatmentThe Health 202: Drug maker accuses FDA of hampering its medication for opioid treatment
Weiterlesen »
Getting Facts Straight On The Opioid CrisisHow much do you know about the opioid epidemic that has swept the nation? We can’t solve the problem if we don’t truly understand it.
Weiterlesen »
Virginia drug company charged in billion-dollar opioid marketing fraud scheme aimed at addictsProsecutors allege that Indivior, which sells the drug known as suboxone film, used a telephone 'helpline' to connect opioid-addicted patients to doctors who were prescribing the drug 'in a careless and clinically unwarranted manner.'
Weiterlesen »
Opinion | Stop blaming my late husband, Arthur Sackler, for the opioid crisisJillian Sackler writes in Opinions: My late husband, Arthur Sackler, had nothing to do with OxyContin. Why are beneficiaries of his philanthropy being targeted for protests?
Weiterlesen »
A tragedy is unfolding in the stock market that should worry both bulls and bearsWhen this rally runs out of steam, the ensuing crash could topple the economy, warns Sven Henrich.
Weiterlesen »
Opinion | Three words to help avoid the tragedy of mistaking a killer’s car for your UberOpinion: Three words to help avoid the tragedy of mistaking a killer’s car for your Uber
Weiterlesen »
Biden calls Trump a 'tragedy in two acts' who is 'locked in the past'Former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday called President Donald Trump a 'tragedy in two acts' for the way he characterizes people.
Weiterlesen »