Recently, we discussed how the opioid epidemic is producing some unexpected results. Namely, we discussed how more and more people dying of drug overdoses are serving as organ donors.

Maybe these donations can help eliminate some of the stigma surrounding drug addiction and drug abusers. Treatment of drug abusers is better than it used to be, but we all still hear people refer to them as junkies, or see how people treat drug abusers with contempt or dismiss them without hearing their stories.

But drug addicts who overdose and donate their organs complicate such views. Some of these drug-using donors indicated their wishes to donate their organs before their deaths. This shows generosity and consideration for others who are less fortunate, not the selfish behavior of so-called junkies who only care about themselves.

This is not to say that drug users always behave admirably, of course. Drug abusers sometimes lie, steal, betray, neglect, or even abuse in order to support their addictions or because they’re struggling with the effects of such addictions. They can hurt others physically and emotionally.

If these addicts are hurting others, they’re also hurting themselves. Their addictions are probably hurting them in a number of ways. They’re struggling with a disease that can have profound effects on the mind and the body. These drug-related effects can produce some less-than-desirable behavior, but the effects aren’t signs that the users are morally corrupt or bad people. Usually they’re simply normal people who need help.

But stigmatizing people prevents them from seeking help. If they think that others might judge them or consider them defective, they might not want to admit their drug and alcohol-related problems because they don’t want to face such judgment and criticism. If they don’t admit their problems, they can’t talk about them. They won’t be able to find that there are people and resources available to help them solve these problems.