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WASHINGTON \u2013 The February edition of a newsletter from North America\u2019s Building Trades Unions and the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) shows some promising numbers in the efforts to reduce overdose deaths and suicides in construction.<\/p>\n
The 2024 overdose and suicide data for construction workers aged 16 to 64 shows\u00a0drug-related overdose deaths dropped 28.8 per cent\u00a0from 2023 to 2024.<\/p>\n
The number of deaths decreased from 15,900 to 11,300 and the overdose death rate fell from 135.0 to 94.8 per 100,000 workers.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough 11,000 workers in our industry dying in a year from an overdose is still much too high, the reduction marks meaningful progress and good news,\u201d the newsletter states.<\/p>\n
Deaths by suicide have also declined.<\/p>\n
They fell 1.7 per cent from 2023 to 2024 (5,100 to 5,000) and the suicide rate decreased from 43.2 to 41.9 per 100,000 workers.<\/p>\n
The groups attribute the declining overdoses to several prevention methods, including:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are committed to continuing these efforts, as well as further improving peer support for construction workers, mental health and substance use treatment access, and awareness training,\u201d the newsletter notes. \u201cCPWR has developed and collected a range of materials to support construction workers on our\u00a0Resources to Prevent Opioid Deaths<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>webpage.\u201d<\/p>\n CPWR offers a separate collection of\u00a0Resources to Prevent Suicides in Construction<\/a>. Both webpages offer links to free resources such as toolbox talks, hazard alert cards, infographics, relevant research, and training programs.<\/p>\n \u201cTo make even more substantial reductions in overdose and suicide deaths, the essential actions our industry is already taking must be accompanied by more upstream efforts like reduction of injuries causing pain, increased availability of paid leave, anti-bullying training and policies, and stronger safety culture,\u201d it reads. \u201cTogether they can weave a tapestry of interventions that will lead to continued decreases in these preventable deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n