Tag: Organ donor

According to the American Kidney Fund, a vast majority of the people on the national transplant waiting list are waiting for a kidney. This staggering statistic highlights which organ is most in demand for transplantation and the immense and ongoing challenge for those with kidney failure.

In 2024, over 48,000 organ transplants were performed in the U.S., with the vast majority made possible by deceased individuals, thereby answering the question: **where do most donated organs come from?** These donors, along with a significant contribution from living donors, form the foundation of the organ transplantation system.

Organ donation from individuals who have died from a drug overdose has seen a dramatic increase, becoming a significant source of donor organs due to the ongoing opioid crisis. So, **Can organs be donated after a drug overdose**? The answer is yes, and modern medicine has advanced to ensure these life-saving donations are both possible and safe for recipients.

While most people can register to be organ donors, only a small percentage ultimately become donors after death. A person's medical history is a primary factor reviewed at the time of death, which helps determine what diseases disqualify you from donating organs and tissues.