Drug Use and Kidney Donation: What Are High-Risk Behaviors Today?

Abstract 

Background

“Social risk behaviors” are usually considered as contraindications for organ donation. The organ shortage, however, necessitates expansion of the donor pool. Reconsideration of the policy toward substance abusers may be important. Opinions of the overall population may be of use to define this cultural-sensitive issue.

Methods

A semistructured questionnaire on organ donation, including opinions on drug use (cannabis and cocaine), was administered to various groups of the general public and caregivers: high school students (liceo classico: 59 students, median age 18 years; istituto tecnico: 108, age 17); first- and fourth-year medical school (77, age 19; 46, age 22); continuing medical education (44, age 32); third-year nursing school (31, age 23); “senior citizen university” (51, age 63).

Results

Cannabis use was mainly accepted for kidney donation (48.6% yes, 26.6% no, 29.8% uncertain/blank), but cocaine use was not (22.1% yes, 44.2% no, 33.7% uncertain/blank). In the univariate analysis, opinions differed according to age, sex, and belonging to the health care teams upon multivariate analysis being a member of the health care team was the strongest predictor of responses (P < .01).

Conclusion

It is difficult to define social risk behaviors. Since opinions are important for organ donation, further studies and discussion are needed to periodically analyze our policies.