Organ donors give the gift of life

Public health officials in Ohio say the deadly opioid epidemic has resulted in an increase in organ donations in their state. WHIO-TV is reporting half of organ donations cases handled by Life Connection of Ohio have been from drug overdoses.

The state of Ohio has seen a 32 percent increase in organ donations from drug-related cases in 2017, which is nearly a 150 percent increase from 2016.

As many as 6,000 people will die this year while waiting for an organ donation. Agreeing to be an organ donor is a selfless act that should be commended and discussed with family members.

It's important to increase awareness about the critical need for organ and tissue donors. That's why the Tennessee County Clerk's Organ Donor Awareness Foundation was founded in 1996 to give each Tennessean the opportunity to contribute $1 when renewing their license plate for statewide organ and tissue donation education.

According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, organ transplants have saved the lives of more than 300,000 people in the United States. Unfortunately, the need for donated organs is currently not being met.

Nearly 100,000 Americans are on waiting lists for donated organs. You can help by agreeing to be an organ donor. In Tennessee, it's as easy as checking a box on your driver's license.

Organ donation is a subject a lot of us would rather not talk about. Even so, now is the time to have that discussion with your family.

For more information on how to become an organ or tissue donor, go to donatelifetn.org.