Organs from opioid overdose deaths helped bring 2017 donations to record-setting 10,000

Organ donations from deceased people exceeded 10,000 in 2017, breaking previous records and continuing a years-long trend, the United Network of Organ Sharing reports.

Donations increased by 3.1 percent over 2016’s numbers, helping to make the 34,768 life-saving transplants that occurred last year possible.

However, shortages continue to plague the transplant community, with deficits far out pacing donations for the last 25 years.