Substance Abuse in the Liver Transplant Candidate

Some patients who are in need of liver transplantation have a history of use and/or dependency on substances such as alcohol, prescription narcotics, or illicit drugs such as heroin or marijuana, just to name a few. Major surgical procedures such as liver transplantation are more dangerous when a patient has an active substance abuse problem. Former substance abusers are at high risk for relapse. They are often unable to comply with the doctors’ orders after the liver transplant.

• Liver transplantation cannot be performed on any patient who is actively using drugs or alcohol.
  
  
• Liver Transplantation cannot be performed on any patient who has a history of use without proper evaluation by a trained substance abuse counselor.

All patients with a history of alcohol and/or drug abuse will need to be evaluated prior to being placed on the liver transplant waiting list. They may also be asked to meet certain conditions in order to be placed on the list, such as:

• Documentation of abstinence from the substance for a specified period of time.
  
  
• Documentation of active participation in a rehabilitation program
  
  
• Random blood or urine tests indicating absence of the substance.