Much has been written in the past few years about both the devastating impact of the US opioid crisis and the advent of a cure for hepatitis C.

But little, if anything, has been said about how, together, they have contributed to a larger-than-ever pool of young organ donors. 

In the past, many organs would be discarded because of the high rates of hepatitis C infection among opioid users. 

But the advent of direct-acting anti­virals has changed that, allowing more and more organs from patients with the virus to be used for transplant.